How will the Council respond to Petitions?
The Wiltshire Council Petitions Scheme onlines in full how the Council will deal with petitions it receives.
No matter what size your petition is you will be kept informed
of how the council proposes to deal with it and the action to be
taken. The council is convinced of the need for local discretion
and flexibility in the way petitions are managed. Discussions will
take place with the relevant cabinet member or the appropriate area
board chairman to determine the most appropriate way of dealing
with the petition.
Our response to a petition will depend on what a petition asks for
and how many people have signed it, but 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 consultation
• holding a meeting with petitioners
• referring the petition for consideration by the
council’s overview and scrutiny committee
• calling a referendum
• writing to the petition organiser setting out our views
about the request in the petition
Key outcomes
Full Council Debate
If your petition has received approximately 4700 signatures (1% of the Council Area population) or more it will also be scheduled for a council debate and if this is the case the council will let you know the date of the meeting of the council when it will be heard. These meetings take place at least four times a year, dates and times can be found here.If you would like to present your petition to the council, or would like your councillor or someone else to present it on your behalf, please contact Democratic Services on committee@wiltshire.gov.uk at least 10 working days before the meeting and we will talk you through the process.
