294A   Casual vacancy not to be filled where councillor numbers reduced

(1)  A casual vacancy in the office of a councillor (but not a mayor elected by the electors) is not to be filled if the Minister has approved an application under section 224A to reduce the number of councillors but the reduction has not yet taken effect.

(2)  However, subsection (1) does not authorise a vacancy to remain unfilled if the vacancy will result in the council having less councillors than the reduced number approved by the Minister under section 224A.

(3)  Subsection (1) applies to a casual vacancy whether occurring before or after the commencement of this section or before or after the approval of the relevant application under section 224A.