18.—(1) If the Court accepts an application under paragraph 11(2) or 12(2) it must try to help the parties to reach within the appropriate period an agreement as to what the appropriate bargaining unit is.N.I.
(2) The appropriate period is[F2 (subject to any notice under sub-paragraph (3), (4) or (5))]
(a)the period of 20 working days starting with the day after that on which the Court gives notice of acceptance of the application, or
(b)such longer period (so starting) as the Court must specify to the parties by notice containing reasons for the extension.
[F2(3) If, during the appropriate period, the Court concludes that there is no reasonable prospect of the parties' agreeing an appropriate bargaining unit before the time when (apart from this sub-paragraph) the appropriate period would end, the Court may, by a notice given to the parties, declare that the appropriate period ends with the date of the notice.
(4) If, during the appropriate period, the parties apply to the Court for a declaration that the appropriate period is to end with a date (specified in the application) which is earlier than the date with which it would otherwise end, the Court may, by a notice given to the parties, declare that the appropriate period ends with the specified date.
(5) If the Court has declared under sub-paragraph (4) that the appropriate period ends with a specified date, it may before that date by a notice given to the parties specify a later date with which the appropriate period ends.
(6) A notice under sub-paragraph (3) must contain reasons for reaching the conclusion mentioned in that sub-paragraph.
(7) A notice under sub-paragraph (5) must contain reasons for the extension of the appropriate period.]