The Neighbourhood Planning (Referendums) (Amendment) Regulations 2013

Information to be made available in relation to referendums

4.—(1) Regulation 4 (information to be made available in relation to referendums) is amended as follows.

(2) In paragraph (1)—

(a) omit the words before “proper officer”, and

(b) after sub-paragraph (b) insert—

“; and

(c) where regulation 17 applies, and subject to paragraph (3A), made available during the referendum period in such other manner if any as the proper officer considers necessary to bring them to the attention of persons likely to be entitled to vote in the business referendum.”.

(3) After paragraph (1) insert—

“(1A) The information statement and the specified documents must be published in accordance with paragraph (1)(a) not fewer than—

(a) where regulation 17 applies, 56 days before the date on which the referendums will be held (subject to paragraph 3A)); or

(b) in any other case, 28 days before the date on which the referendum will be held.

(1B) Where regulation 17 applies (and subject to paragraph (3B)), the information statement and specified documents must be published on the same date in respect of each of the referendums.”.

(4) In paragraph (3)(a)(i) at the end insert “and, where regulation 17 applies, that two referendums will be held on the same date one of which is a business referendum;”.

(5) In paragraph (3)(a)(ii) after “the date on which the referendum” insert “or referendums”.

(6) In paragraph (3)(a)(iii) after “the question to be asked in the referendum” insert “or referendums”.

(7) For paragraph (3)(a)(vii) to (ix) substitute—

“(vi) a description of persons entitled to vote in the referendum and, where regulation 17 applies, each of the referendums;

(vii) the referendum expenses limit that will apply in relation to the referendum or, where regulation 17 applies, as the overall limit for both referendums, and the number of persons by reference to which that limit has been calculated;

(viii) that the referendum or referendums will be conducted in accordance with procedures similar to those used at local government elections; and

(ix) the address and times at which a copy of the specified documents can be inspected, including, where regulation 17 applies, the specified documents relating to the business referendum; and”;

(8) After paragraph (3) insert—

“(3A) Where regulation 17 applies, the referendum expenses limit in paragraph (3)(a)(vii) shall be published and made available in accordance with paragraph (1) as soon as practicable after the initial registration list is received by the business registration officer.

(3B) Where regulation 17 applies, this regulation does not require publication or making available of more than one statement, nor of the same document more than once, except in so far as is necessary to bring the information set out in paragraph (3) in respect of both referendums to the attention of persons entitled to vote in either of the referendums.

(3C) In this regulation “referendum expenses limit” has the same meaning as in regulation 6(1).”

(9) In paragraph (4) omit the words “of 28 days”.