Petitions scheme 2024 Agreed

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Petitions Scheme
This policy sets out the procedure that the Town Council will use to deal with petitions that
are presented to the Council.

Approved by Council 22 April 2024

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Introduction
North Petherton Town Council recognises that petitions are one way in which people
can let us know their views. We will treat something as a petition if it is identified as
being a petition or, if it seems to us that it is intended to be a petition.
Who can organise a petition?
Anyone who lives, works or studies in North Petherton can organise a petition.
Who can sign a petition?
Anyone who lives, works or studies in North Petherton can sign a petition.
What are the guidelines for preparing the petition?
Petitions must include:
• A clear and concise statement covering the subject of the petition and what
action the petitioners wish the council to take on each page.
• A declaration at the foot of each page stating that the signatures have been
collected without any form of intimidation or coercion and that the statement
at the head of the petition was read out clearly to each person before they
agreed to take part.
• The name, address (including postcode) and signature of any person
supporting the petition.
• At least 50 people who live, work or study in North Petherton have signed the
document in order for the Council to accept it as a petition.
• Wherever possible, petitioners of paper petitions, are encouraged to use North
Petherton Town Council template (Appendix 1).
• Petitions should be accompanied by contact details, including postal address,
for the petition organiser. This is the person we will contact to explain how we
will respond to the petition.
• Personal information, including the name and address of the petition organiser
and petition signatories, will not be placed on the website or used for any
purpose other than verification.
How is the petition given to the Council?
A) The petition can be presented at any meeting of North Petherton Town
Council or one of its Committees. Please note that consideration of the
petition will not take place at the same meeting.
B) The petition can be handed in to the Town Council offices during its usual
opening hours (10:00hrs – 12:00hrs Tuesdays)
C) The petition can be posted to:
North Petherton Town Council
The Small Hall
Fore Street
North Petherton
Somerset
TA6 6QA
1.

What Will the Council do when it receives the petition?
Acknowledgement

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2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

A) If the petition is presented to a meeting of the Town Council or one of its
Committees its receipt will be recorded in the Community Time section at the
start of the minutes – no other written acknowledgment of receipt will be sent
B) If the petition is handed in to the Town Council offices or sent by post an
acknowledgement of receipt will be sent to the petition organiser within 20
working days.
Notifying Councillors
If the petition is handed in to the Council offices or sent by post its receipt will be
formally reported to the next full Town Council meeting (provided that the agenda
has not been published)
Vexatious, abusive or otherwise inappropriate petitions
No further action will be taken in regard to any petition that the Council considers to
be vexatious, abusive or otherwise inappropriate. Petitions should not disclose
matters that are personal or confidential.
Duplicate or similar petitions
Any petition that is a duplicate or near duplicate of another petition that the Town
Council has already received will not normally be considered within a 12 month
period of the original petition being received.
Verification of signatures
The Town Council reserves the right to verify signatures; this may be done by variety
of methods including reference to the electoral roll and direct contact with the named
signatory.
Consideration of the petition
A) If the petition is about something which is not within the Town Council’s
responsibility or direct control the Town Council will consider (either at a full
Council or Committee meeting) what action to take e.g. if it should make
representations to the appropriate body on behalf of the community or forward the
petition. The petition organiser will be informed what action the Town Council
agrees to take.
B) If the petition relates to a subject where consultation by the Town Council is
currently being undertaken or due to be undertaken in the next six months we will
ensure the petition is included as part of the consultation and contact the petition
organiser to give them details of the consultation.
C) If the petition is about something which is within the Town Council’s responsibility
or direct control and which is due for consideration (either at a full Council or
Committee meeting) within the 6 months of the petition being received the petition
will be included as part of the Council’s deliberations.
D) If the petition is about something which is within the Town Council’s responsibility
or direct control but is not scheduled for consideration or consultation, the petition
will be put on an appropriate Council agenda for discussion; the Council’s decision
may include one or more of the following:
• Delegating consideration and action to a relevant committee
• Delegating consideration to a relevant committee for them to make a
recommendation to full Council
• Undertaking further research into the petition subject (which may include
consultation)
• Holding a public meeting on the topic
• Holding a meeting with the petitioners;
• Writing to the petition organiser setting out the views of the Council on the
petition topic.

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E) If the petition is about something which the Council or one of its Committees has
discussed and made a decision about in the previous 6 months the petition will be
put on an appropriate Council agenda. In order for the petition subject and / or
decision to be revisited it would need a Council resolution; such a resolution must
be agreed by the majority of Councillors present at the meeting and in addition at
least eight Councillors must vote in favour of the resolution
In the period immediately before an election or referendum we may need to deal with
petitions differently – if this is the case we will contact the petition organiser to
explain the reasons.

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APPENDIX 1
Petition to North Petherton Town Council
Petition Check List
Any petition must meet the Council’s Petition Scheme requirements and be signed
by at least 50 people.
Individuals signing this petition must be persons who either live, work or study in
North Petherton.
Each page must include a clear and concise statement covering the subject of the
petition and what action the petitioners wish the council to take.
Each page must include a declaration stating that the signatures have been
collected without any form of intimidation or coercion and that the statement at the
head of the petition was read out clearly to each person before they agreed to take
part.

Contact Details of the Lead Petitioner
(This is the person the Council will respond to)
Name (please print) …………………………………………………………………………
Address (please print) ……………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………
Telephone No ………………………………………………………………………………
Email Address ……………………………………………………………………………..
I live/work/study in North Petherton (please indicate)
………………………………………..
Signature ………………………………………………….

Statement covering the subject of the petition and what action the
petitioners wish the Town Council to take.

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We the undersigned petition North Petherton Town Council to
Statement covering the subject of the petition and what action the
petitioners wish the Town council to take.

Name

Full address including
postcode

Signature

Live/Work/Study
in North
Petherton
(Please indicate)

I/we being the organiser(s) of this petition confirm that the above signatures have
been collected without any form of intimidation or coercion. The statement at the
head of the petition was read out clearly to each of the persons who signed the
petition before they agreed to take part.
Name of Organiser ……………………………………… Signed ………………………...
Date ………………………….