Combined authority returning officer
6.—(1) The combined authority must appoint one of its officers, or one of the officers of a constituent council, to be the combined authority returning officer in relation to the election.
(2) The combined authority returning officer may give, to a returning officer, directions relating to the discharge of his or her functions at the election, including directions requiring the provision to the combined authority returning officer of any information which the returning officer has or is entitled to have, directions requiring him or her to take specified steps in preparation for the election, directions that the ballot papers shall be printed by the combined authority returning officer and directions that the count of votes shall be conducted at a central location.
(3) It shall be the duty of a returning officer to whom directions are given under paragraph (2) to discharge his or her functions at the election in accordance with the directions.