(1)The provisions of the next two following sections shall come into operation or cease to be in operation in the area of a rating authority if the authority resolve that those provisions shall apply or cease to apply to their area, and shall come into operation or cease to be in operation in that area on such day as may be specified in the resolution.
(2)The day to be specified by a resolution under subsection (1) of this section shall be—
(a)in the case of a resolution providing that the said provisions shall apply to the area in question, the first day of a rate period for that area beginning after the day on which the resolution is passed, not being earlier, if those provisions have previously applied to the area, than the expiration of the period of seven years beginning with the day when those provisions ceased or last ceased to apply to the area or of such shorter period as the Minister authorises in any particular case;
(b)in the case of a resolution providing that the said provisions shall cease to apply to the area in question, the last day of a rate period for that area ending after the day on which the resolution is passed, not being earlier than the expiration of the period of seven years beginning with the day when those provisions came or last came into operation in the area or of such shorter period as the Minister authorises in any particular case.
(3)As soon as may be after a resolution is passed by a rating authority under this section, the authority shall cause a copy of the resolution to be published in the London Gazette and in one or more newspapers circulating in the area of the authority.
(4)A document purporting to be a copy of the minutes of a resolution passed by a rating authority under this section and to be certified under the hand of the clerk of the authority as a true copy of the minutes of the resolution shall be evidence that the resolution was passed by the authority.
(5)In this section " rating authority " does not include the Sub-Treasurer of the Inner Temple or the Under-Treasurer of the Middle Temple; and for the purposes of the next two following sections " rate ", in relation to the City of London, means the poor rate.