7.—(1) In relation to a petition received after an authority have given notice of their intention to hold a referendum and of the date on which that referendum will be held (whether pursuant to this Part, or section 9M (cases in which change subject to approval in a referendum)), nothing in this Part shall require an authority to hold a referendum or to take any steps other than those specified in paragraph (2) and regulation 12.
(2) The steps specified in this paragraph are to secure that the proper officer, as soon as reasonably practicable after the receipt of the petition notifies the petition organiser (if any)—
(a)of the receipt of the petition;
(b)that the petition is a post-announcement petition; and
(c)that the authority propose to take no further action in relation to it.