(1)Where the boundaries of an internal drainage district have for a period exceeding 10 years been neither altered nor in pursuance of this section reviewed and a petition for their alteration is made to the water authority within whose area the district is situated by a sufficient number of qualified persons, or by a qualified authority, the water authority shall, subject to subsection (5) below, review those boundaries.
(2)Where, in the circumstances mentioned in subsection (1) above, any such petition is received by a water authority, the water authority shall inform the Minister and, subject to subsection (5) below, shall publish in one or more newspapers circulating in the internal drainage district a notice stating that the petition has been received, that a review of the boundaries is being undertaken, and that representations may be made to the water authority within a time (which shall not be less than 30 days) stated in the notice.
(3)In carrying out any review required by this section the water authority shall consult the drainage board of the internal drainage district (except where the water authority are that drainage board) and shall consider any representations duly made to them; and within 6 months after the petition was made or such longer time as the Minister may allow the water authority shall inform the Minister whether, as a result of the review, they propose to submit to him a scheme under section 11 above and, if so, what provision they propose to make by the scheme.
(4)Where the water authority do not propose, as a result of the review, to submit to the Minister a scheme under section 11 above but it appears to them that an order under section 68(1) below, or an order varying or revoking such an order, should be made by the drainage board of the internal drainage district, they may direct the drainage board to make such an order in such terms as may be specified in the direction; but if the drainage board object to the direction it shall have no effect unless it is confirmed (with or without modifications) by the Minister.
(5)This section does not require a water authority to carry out a review or publish any notice on a petition which in the opinion of the Minister is frivolous.