Petitions

Have your say on local issues

A petition is one way for residents to raise concerns, highlight local issues and ask the Council to take action. Bromsgrove District Council welcomes petitions and recognises them as an important way for people to make their views known on matters that affect the district.

Petitions can be submitted by individuals, community groups or organisations and may be provided either electronically or on paper.

What can a petition be about?

A petition should relate to a matter that is the responsibility of Bromsgrove District Council or an issue that affects the district.

Petitions may ask the Council to:

• Consider a local issue or concern
• Review a service or policy
• Take a particular course of action
• Raise an issue with another organisation or public body where appropriate

If a petition relates to a planning application, licensing matter or another regulatory function, it will be referred to the relevant Council service or committee and considered as part of the appropriate process.

How to submit a petition

Petitions can be submitted either:

• As a paper petition
• As an electronic petition (e-petition)

All petitions should clearly state:

• What the petition is about
• The action you would like the Council to take
• The name, address and signature of each supporter
• Contact details for the Lead Petitioner, who will act as the main point of contact with the Council

Petition organisers should also provide a brief written statement explaining the purpose of the petition.

Submit your petition

Petitions should be sent to:

Head of Legal, Democratic and Procurement Services (Monitoring Officer)
Bromsgrove District Council
Parkside
Market Street
Bromsgrove
Worcestershire
B61 8DA

What happens after you submit a petition?

The Council will acknowledge receipt of your petition within 10 working days and will explain how it intends to respond.

Where appropriate, the Council may:

• Take the action requested
• Consider the petition at a Council meeting
• Carry out research into the issue
• Hold a public meeting
• Undertake consultation
• Meet with petition organisers
• Refer the matter to Cabinet
• Refer the matter to the Overview and Scrutiny Board
• Provide a formal written response explaining its position

The response will depend on the nature of the request and the circumstances of the issue raised.

Presenting a petition to Council

If your petition relates to a matter that falls within the responsibility of Full Council, you may request that it is formally presented at a Council meeting.

A petition may be presented by:

• The Lead Petitioner
• A local councillor
• Another nominated representative

Please contact Democratic Services at least 10 working days before the meeting to discuss the process.

Petitions about other organisations

Some issues raised by residents may fall outside the Council's direct responsibilities, such as healthcare or rail services.

Where appropriate, the Council may make representations on behalf of the community or work with partner organisations to help address the issue. If this is not possible, the reasons will be explained to the petition organiser.

Petitions and Overview and Scrutiny

In some circumstances, petitions may be referred to the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Board for further consideration.

The Overview and Scrutiny Board is responsible for examining issues affecting the district and can review Council decisions, investigate local concerns and make recommendations for improvement.

Further Information

For advice on submitting a petition or presenting a petition to Council, please contact Democratic Services on  01527 64252 ext. 3072.

Related Information

• Petition Form
• Council Meetings
• Overview and Scrutiny
• Have Your Say and Consultations
• Contact Your Councillor