Section 307 of the Principal Act is amended as follows:

(a) by inserting in subsection (1) "in the office of a councillor" after "casual vacancy" ;

(b) by omitting subsection (3) and substituting the following subsections:

(3)  The Chief Electoral Officer is not to carry out a recount if a vacancy occurs during the period commencing 6 months before, and ending on the Thursday before, the day on which the notice of election for a forthcoming election is to be given.

(3A)  The Chief Electoral Officer is to carry out a recount if a vacancy occurs during the period referred to in subsection (3) if the number of remaining councillors of a council is not sufficient to constitute a quorum.

(3B)  The Chief Electoral Officer is to carry out a recount if –

(a) a vacancy occurs during the period commencing on the Friday before the day on which the notice of a forthcoming election is to be given and ending on the day on which the certificate of election for that election is issued; and

(b) the vacancy still exists after the issue of that certificate of election.