Petitions
Ashford Borough Council adopted a new and improved Petitions
Scheme on the 21st October 2010. The Council and its Partners
recognise the need to help citizens communicate their needs and
concerns about issues in the local area. Petitions have a long
tradition, and can be useful in suggesting levels of support for
various propositions, so the Council will encourage their use in
appropriate circumstances, and will offer advice to interested
persons as how to best make use of this Scheme in order to acheive
their aims.
The Full Scheme can be
found here 79Kb PDF
The purpose of the Scheme is to establish a clear process for
petitions submitted to the Council to be handled in accordance with
the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act
2009. It covers:
- How people who live, work or study in the Authority's area can
organise or sign a petition and secure a statutory response.
- How specific responses can be triggered by achieving prescribed
levels of signatory support.
- Who will do what.
- How petition organisers can seek a review of the Council's
response.
Petitions may be submitted and presented to meetings of the
Council, the Executive and its Commitees (excluding the Planning
Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as they
have their own arrangements for consulting with the public) prior
to the passing of any resolution to exclude the public.
Specific responses to petitions can be triggered by achieving
prescribed levels of signatory support. Namely:
- A minimum of 50 valid signatures is required for any valid
petition.
- A minimum of 750 valid signatures is required to request that a
Senior Council Officer be required to appear at any Overview and
Scrutiny Committee and give evidence on an issue for which he or
she is responsible.
- A minimum of 1500 valid signatures is required for an issue to
be debated at a Full Council Meeting.
E-Petitions
You can now create or sign an e-petition via this website!
For e-petition guidance, to create or sign an e-petition and
FAQs please click on the link below.
https://haveyoursay.ashford.gov.uk/consult.ti/system/text/aboutpetitions
Where can I find out dates of meetings?
A full list
of meeting dates are available, or you can contact Member
Services on 01233 330564, email Member
Services or write to us at:
Member Services
Ashford Borough Council
Civic Centre
Tannery Lane
Ashford
Kent TN23 1PL
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you are unsure which
meeting your petition should be addressed to.
This webpage was updated on
6/8/2011