Petitions Scheme - Publications Demo Content How to submit a petition

Published: 2 July 2024
Last updated: 2 July 2024

5.1 Petitions may be submitted by e-mail, post, in person at the Town Hall, or through our e-petitions website. All petitions currently available for signature
will be shown on our website. We reserve the right to check the validity of the addresses of anyone who signs a petition to ensure that they have a real interest in the borough.

5.2 Organisers of petitions can visit our website to submit a petition online or download the petition form. 

5.3 We welcome e-petitions which are created and submitted through our website. E-petitions must follow the same guidelines as paper petitions.

5.4 All petitions currently available for signature will be posted on the Council’s website. The website shows what is happening to a petition as it goes through
the various stages of the process set out in this scheme.

5.5 Elected Members may sign a petition but will need to follow the Council’s rules about declaring an
interest if they are involved in decision making in response to the petition.

Accordion

Council responses in an accordian

8.1 The response to a petition will depend on what the petition asks for and how many people have signed it, but may include one or more of the following:
• taking the action requested in the petition
• considering the petition at a Council meeting
• holding an inquiry into the matter
• undertaking research into the matter
• holding a public meeting
• holding consultation
• holding a meeting with petitioners

Another set of things in an accordian

• referring the petition for consideration by one of the Council's Policy and Accountability Committees
• writing to the petition organiser setting out our views about the request in the petition
• resolve that the content of the petition be taken into account when reaching a decision on the relevant report.

Policy and Accountability Committees are committees of Councillors who are responsible for policy development and for scrutinising the work of the Council - in other words, they have the power to hold the Council's decision-makers to account.