(1) The court may adjourn or further adjourn proceedings under section 173 at any time for the purpose of enabling the cohabitants to attempt, if they both so wish, with or without the assistance of a third party -

(a) to reconcile, or

(b) to reach agreement on some or all of the terms of a possible settlement between them.

(2) Either or both of the cohabitants may at any time request that the hearing of proceedings adjourned under subsection (1) be resumed as soon as may be and, if a request is made, the court shall, subject to any other power of the court to adjourn proceedings, resume the hearing.

(3) The powers conferred by this section are additional to any other power of the court to adjourn proceedings.

(4) The court may, at its discretion when adjourning proceedings under this section, advise the cohabitants to seek the assistance of a mediator or other third party in relation to the cohabitants’ proposed reconciliation or reaching of an agreement between them on some or all of the terms of a possible settlement.