(1)The following definitions have effect for the purposes of this Act.
(2)“Merger regulations” means regulations under section 6.
(3)“Merging authority” means—
(a)a principal local authority for a principal area which is to be merged into a new principal area by virtue of merger regulations, or
(b)(except where the context otherwise provides) a principal local authority for a principal area which is to be merged into a new principal area by virtue of provisions of a Bill introduced in the National Assembly for Wales by the Welsh Ministers or an Act of the National Assembly for Wales.
(4)“Principal area” means a county or county borough in Wales.
(5)“Principal local authority” means the local authority for a principal area.
(6)“Proposed principal area” means an area specified as a new principal area—
(a)in an application under section 3(1) or in merger regulations, or
(b)in proposals published by the Welsh Ministers (whether or not in a draft Bill), in a Bill introduced in the National Assembly for Wales by the Welsh Ministers or in an Act of the National Assembly for Wales.
(7)“Shadow authority” means—
(a)an authority which has been established as a shadow authority in accordance with provision included in merger regulations under section 7, or
(b)an authority which has been elected as a shadow authority for a new principal area specified in an Act of the National Assembly for Wales in accordance with provision made by the Act.
(8)“Transfer date” means—
(a)in relation to a case in which the areas of principal local authorities are (or are to be) merged into a new principal area by virtue of merger regulations, 1 April 2018;
(b)in relation to a case in which the areas of principal local authorities are (or are to be) merged into a new principal area by virtue of an Act of the National Assembly for Wales, 1 April 2020.
(9)“Transition committee” means a transition committee established in accordance with regulations under section 11.