12.—(1) Notwithstanding section 7(8) and (9) of the 1972 Act (elections of councillors)—
(a)elections shall not be held in 2008 for the return of councillors to any of the district councils; and
(b)the term of office of councillors elected to any of the district councils in 2004, 2006 or 2007 shall end on 1st April 2009(1).
(2) Nothing in section 89 of the 1972 Act (filling of casual vacancies in case of councillors) shall authorise the holding of an election to fill a casual vacancy in the office of councillor of any of the district councils where that vacancy arises after 30th September 2008 and before 1st April 2009.
Under section 7(9) of the Local Government Act 1972, the term of office of councillors of non-metropolitan district councils is four years.