In this section “recommendations as to single-member electoral areas” means recommendations, for each electoral area in the area of a principal council, as to whether the electoral area should return one member of the council.

For the purposes of subsection (3)(b) a principal council is “subject to a scheme for whole-council elections” if, in each year in which ordinary elections of members of the council are to be held, all the members of the council are to be elected.

If the Local Government Boundary Commission for England grants a request under this section, in making its recommendations it must (in addition to the matters to be considered pursuant to Schedule 2) have regard to the desirability of securing that each electoral area in the principal council's area should return one member of the council.

If the Local Government Boundary Commission for England decides not to grant a principal council's request under this section, it must notify the council of its decision and the reasons for it.

Nothing in this section prevents the Local Government Boundary Commission for England, when making recommendations as to single-member electoral areas pursuant to subsection (1), from making other recommendations under section 56(2)(b).

In subsections (2) and (5), references to electoral areas are, in relation to a case where the Local Government Boundary Commission for England makes recommendations for change to the number or boundaries of electoral areas in the area of a principal council, to the recommended electoral areas.