Council promises to respond to petitions and will accept online ones from December
Hounslow Council has introduced a new petition scheme to encourage people in the borough to speak up about any issues they feel need tackling.
Councillor Theo Dennison announced the new measures, with the support of the Conservative Councillors, in line with the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 that ensure all petitions sent or presented to the Council will receive an acknowledgement within 14 days of receipt.
From this point, the lead petitioner, their ward councillor or mayor, on their behalf will be invited to present their petition at a meeting of the Borough Council.
Residents will be able to create petitions from 15 December 2010 on line (also a statutory requirement) at www.hounslow.gov.uk/petitions. The scheme will also be subject to a review before this deadline.
Cllr Theo Dennison, Hounslow’s executive member for finance and performance, said:
“We welcome the submission of petitions and recognise their importance in allowing the public to let us know their concerns and address critical issues.
“We acknowledge all petitions submitted within two weeks and can even begin to action these points within this time, or alternatively suggest what steps we plan to take to achieve the goals outlined.
“This is local democracy in action, and vital for enabling communities to voice important topics with their council. This is just one forum that the people of Hounslow have to engage with us and challenge any policies no matter how big or small they might be.”
The relevant member of the executive will propose a response to the petition at the council meeting. Our response 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 a meeting with petitioners
•
referring the petition for consideration by the council's overview and scrutiny committee
•
writing to the petition organiser setting out our views about the request in the petition
Petitions can be sent to:
The Mayor
London Borough of Hounslow
Civic Centre
Lampton Road
Hounslow
TW3 4DN
Petitions must include:
• at least 10 names
• a clear and concise statement covering the subject of the petition
• a statement of what action the petitioners wish the council to take
• the name and address (which may be where the signatory lives, works or studies) and the signature of any person supporting the petition
August 5, 2010