What should the petition include?
For paper based petitions the format is really up to you but as a minimum, the petition must include:
- A clear and concise statement covering the subject of the petition – it should state what action the petitioners wish the council to take. It is important to be as clear as possible as to what you are hoping to achieve from the petition and the action that you would like the council to take;
- The name, address and signature of any person supporting the petition.
- Details of the petition organiser (this will be the person that the council will use as a contact point for the petitioner).
Is there anything which cannot be included in a petition?
Petitions must not relate to:
- Planning decisions;
- Licensing decisions;
- Matters for which another right of review or appeal exists;
- Certain statutory petitions (making a statutory demand for payment of a debt); and
- Vexatious, abusive or inappropriate matters.
In the case of the first three bullet points, a systematic failure to deliver those services could still be the subject of a petition.
How do I submit a completed petition?
You will need to include with your petition your name, address, signature and telephone number or contact details.
Paper based petitions can be submitted:
- By post to the Head of Democratic and Member Services, Warrington Borough Council, Town Hall, Sankey Street, Warrington, WA1 1UH
- Or by email (If scanned into an electronic format): democraticandmemberservices@warrington.gov.uk)
- In person: at Contact Warrington, the Town Hall or New Town House receptions (during normal office hours)
What will happen next?
When a completed petition has been received the organiser of the petition will receive an acknowledgement within 10 working days and the local ward councillors will be informed as and when appropriate. The acknowledgement will usually inform the petition organiser of the action that the council will take with regards to the petition which is often determined by what the petition is asking for and are set out below:
- For a petition to receive a response from the council it must receive 100 or more valid signatures;
- If the petition receives fewer than 1500 valid signatures it will be referred to the relevant Assistant Director and Executive Board Portfolio Holder for their consideration and response;
- If the petition receives over 1500 valid signatures it will be referred to the Monitoring Officer and the Chair of the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee for consideration. It will then be determined where the petition should be considered. This could be any committee of the council or Full Council as and when appropriate;
- All petitions with over 100 valid signatures will be forwarded to the relevant ward councillors as appropriate for their information.
When a petition is referred to a committee of the council, the committee chair will determine what action should be taken and whether the petition should be added to the committee work programme for consideration at a future meeting. Should the petition be considered at committee meeting the petition organiser will be invited to attend and address the committee. The committee will then consider and discuss the petition in order to determine the action that it wishes to take which includes:
- To take no further action relating to the petitioner
- To make a recommendation to the Executive Board
- To recommend that a debate on the petition takes place at Full Council
- To make another recommendation as appropriate.
Public engagement
The council and its partners are committed to engaging with local residents, community groups and businesses in shaping the way that we plan for an provide local services and petitions provide a useful tool for such engagement.
The Audit and Corporate Governance Committee will receive an annual report on petitions at the end of each municipal year. The report provides analysis of the petitions received, the number of signatures, topics for petitions and actions taken. The report is published along with the rest of the papers for the committee five clear working days prior to the date of the meeting at which it will be considered.
