The Council has a scheme which considers paper petitions and e-petitions and works as a mechanism in which people can let the Council know their concerns. Petitions (both paper and e-petitions), also act as a method for the public to request a review of decisions by the Council, Executive or another decision making body of the Council.
Acknowledgement and consideration
Acknowledgement of accepted petitions will take place within 10 working days. If the requested action isn’t undertaken straightaway, the acknowledgement will inform the petition organiser which Council, Executive or Committee meeting the petition will be considered. The petition organiser will be given five minutes to present the petition at the meeting.
| Number of signatures received | Minimum response |
|---|---|
| Up to 49 | A response from the relevant portfolio holder or relevant Committee Chair |
| 50 to 249 | Referred to the Executive or relevant standing Committee of the Council |
| 250 or more | Referred to Full Council |
If a petition receives 50 or more signatories, where applicable the petition will also be received and discussed at a Residents’ Panel at the petitioners’ request.
Petition criteria
- Petitions submitted to the Council must be about matters for which the Council has a responsibility or which affect the Borough of Surrey Heath.
- Petitions submitted to the Council must include:
- A clear and concise statement covering the subject of the petition, state what action the petitioners wish the Council to take
- The name and address and signature of people in support of the petition,
- The name, address and contact details of the petition organiser.
- Petitions should not be vexatious, abusive or otherwise inappropriate (as considered by the Council’s Monitoring Officer).
- Petitions should not concern planning or licensing applications or relate to a matter where there is already an existing right of appeal, such as council tax banding and non-domestic rates, or where other procedures apply.
Electronic petitions should be made either via the Council’s e-petitions facility or via an independent petition website. In the case of an electronic petition, the petition organiser must specify how long the petition will be open for signatures, up to a maximum of 12 months.
Petitions may obtain signatures via paper and electronically. However, in such a scenario, these will be treated as one petition.
Full details of the Council’s Petition Scheme can be found in Part 4, Section L of the Council’s Constitution.
View all past petitions and current e-petitions, which use the Council’s e-petition facility.