PART 3Invitation to become an opted in authority
Invitation to principal authorities
8.—(1) Before every compulsory appointing period begins, a relevant appointing person must issue an invitation in accordance with this regulation to all principal authorities which fall within the class of authorities in relation to which the person has been specified under regulation 3(2).
(2) The invitation must be published in such manner as the relevant appointing person thinks is likely to bring it to the attention of the principal authorities concerned.
(3) The invitation must contain the following information—
(a)the length of the compulsory appointing period, specifying the financial year or years to which it relates;
(b)the closing date for the giving of notice to the appointing person by an authority within the class to accept the invitation (and that date must allow at least 8 weeks for acceptance beginning on the date the invitation is published);
(c)an explanation of the procedures by which an authority may accept the invitation and become an opted in authority.
(4) An invitation may not relate to a financial year which commences before 1st April 2017.
(5) In these Regulations “invitation” means an invitation to become an opted in authority for the duration of the compulsory appointing period.
Acceptance of an invitation
9.—(1) A principal authority which is within the class of authorities to whom an invitation has been issued may accept an invitation made by a relevant appointing person under regulation 8 by giving notice of acceptance to the appointing person on or before the closing date mentioned in regulation 8(3)(b).
(2) An authority which gives a notice under paragraph (1) becomes an opted in authority on the date the notice is received by the appointing person.
(3) An authority which has become an opted in authority under this regulation is an opted in authority only for the duration of the compulsory appointing period specified in the invitation.