Where there are so many vacancies in the office of parish or community councillor that the parish or community council are unable to act, the district council or Welsh principal council may by order appoint persons to fill all or any of the vacancies until other councillors are elected and take up office.
In the case of a common parish council under which are grouped, by virtue of section 11(5) above, parishes situated in different districts, the reference in subsection (1) above to the district council shall be construed as a reference to the council of the district in which there is the greater number of local government electors for the parishes in the group.
Two copies of every order made under this section shall be sent to the Secretary of State.