Closed - Putting Power in to Petitions - CLG consultation on draft statutory guidance to support the petitions duty

Under the petitions duty in the Local Democracy Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, for the first time councils will be expected to respond to petitions and tell residents what action is going to be taken to address their concerns. No council will be able to ignore a petition or leave it on the shelf because it raises a difficult or challenging issue.

The new duty means councils must act, on behalf of local people, to address concerns about under-performing services across the board. As part of a response, petitions with a significant level of support will also trigger a debate of the full council or require a senior officer to have to attend the authority's overview and scrutiny committee to answer questions.

Every council will have to set out clearly how local people can submit both paper and electronic petitions so that people know how they can express their views.

CLG are keen to hear your view on this guidance which gives details about how the petitions duty will work in practice.  The consultation will run until Wednesday 24 February 2010.

For further information please see www.communities.gov.uk/publications/communities/petitionsresponseconsultation

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/1400317