3(1)The Secretary of State may, for the purposes of sections 15 and 16 of this Act, by regulations make provision—E+W+S
(a)as to the circumstances in which the members of a relevant authority are to be treated as divided into different political groups;
(b)as to the persons who are to be treated as members of such a group and as to when a person is to be treated as having ceased to be a member of such agroup;
(c)requiring the question whether a person is or is not a member of a political group to be determined in such manner as may be provided for by or under the regulations;
(d)specifying the manner in which, and times at which, the wishes of such a group are to be expressed and the consequences of a failure by such a group to express its wishes.
(2)Regulations under this paragraph may make provision modifying the provisions of sections 15 and 16 of this Act in relation to any case in which some of the members of a relevant authority fall to be treated as members of one or more political groups and the others do not.