12.—(1) An application made by an interested council (whether solely or jointly with any other person) for express consent to display an advertisement shall be determined by the council concerned unless the application is referred to the Department under section 29 of the 2011 Act (as modified by paragraph 2) for determination by it.
(2) Where such an application is referred to the Department, section 29 shall apply as if—
(a)in subsection (1), for “applications for planning permission made to a council, or applications for the approval of a council of any matter required under a development order”, there were substituted “applications for the display of advertisements pursuant to regulations made under section 130 of this Act”;
(b)subsections (3) and (5) were omitted; and
(c)in subsection (6) the words “, other than an application mentioned in subsection (5),” were omitted.
(3) Where the Department gives a direction under section 29 in respect of an application for express consent, regulations 10 to 13 shall apply to that application as if—
(a)references to the council (in whatever terms) were references to the Department; and
(b)references to “applicant” were references to an “interested council”.