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[F1SCHEDULE 6E+WREGISTERING TO VOTE IN A BUSINESS REFERENDUM

PART 6E+WReviewing the register

Procedure for removal from registerE+W

25.(1) Where the business registration officer is notified by a business vote holder that the business vote holder has ceased to be liable to pay non-domestic rates on a hereditament in the referendum area, the business registration officer must, if that notification is received no later than 5pm on the eleventh day before the date of the business referendum, remove that business vote holder from the business voting register.

(2) Where, in respect of any business vote holder registered on the business voting register—

(a)the business registration officer is not satisfied that the business vote holder is a non-domestic rate payer in the referendum area, or

(b)the business registration officer is not satisfied that a named voter meets the requirements in paragraph 6(3) and (4),

the business registration officer must send to the business vote holder and, in a case mentioned in sub-paragraph (b) the named voter, a notice which—

(i)states the opinion mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) and the grounds for it,

(ii)requires the business vote holder or the named voter to provide such further information as might be specified in the notice or requires the named voter to make a declaration under paragraph 14 or both, or

(iii)states the opinion mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) or (b), that the business registration officer intends to conduct a hearing, and the time and place at which that hearing is to take place.

(3) Where a business vote holder receives a notice of the kind mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(i), the business vote holder may request a hearing for the purposes of contesting the opinions expressed by the business registration officer in that notice and, where the business vote holder makes such a request, the business registration officer must hold such a hearing.

(4) Where a business vote holder who is sent a notice of the kind mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(i) does not, within 3 days beginning with the date of that notice, notify the business registration officer that the business vote holder requires a hearing to be held, the business registration officer may determine without a hearing that the business vote holder, or the details of the named voter, should be removed from the business voting register and must, subject to paragraph 26, accordingly alter the business voting register, the identifier record and the voters list.

(5) Where a notice of the kind mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(ii) is sent and no response is received to the business registration officer’s satisfaction, or at all, within 5 days beginning with the date of that notice, the business registration officer may send to the business vote holder a notice of a kind mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(i).

(6) In making a determination under sub-paragraph (4), the business registration officer must take into account any written representations made to the business registration officer by the business vote holder or the named voter and may take into account the written representations of any other person who appears to the business registration officer to be interested.]