If in the Welsh Ministers' opinion the amount calculated by an authority as its budget requirement for a financial year (the year under consideration) is excessive, they may exercise their power to designate or nominate the authority under section 52D below.
The question whether the amount so calculated is excessive must be decided in accordance with a set of principles determined by the Welsh Ministers.
A set of principles—
A comparison falls within this subsection if—
If for the purposes of this section the Welsh Ministers determine categories of authorities for the year under consideration—
If they do not determine such categories, any principles determined for the year under consideration must be such that the same set is determined for all authorities.
In determining categories of authorities for the year under consideration the Welsh Ministers shall take into account any information they think is relevant.
In applying this section the Welsh Ministers shall ignore any calculation for which another has been substituted at the time designation or nomination is proposed.