What should my petition include?
Your petition should clearly state the issue and what you want to happen. I have an issue I want to raise but I do not have enough signatures? You can always raise any issues with your local ward councillors.
Will all petitions be accepted?
All petitions will be accepted unless Luton Borough Council considers them to be inappropriate – for example those relating to matters which are part of ongoing legal proceedings or which target individual members of a community. Petitions which are vexatious or abusive will also be refused.
Are there any age limits for signing a petition?
No, anyone – including under 18’s – can sign or organise a petition.
My petition concerns a local issue - where will this be considered?
Petitions concerning local issues or issues of wider community interest will usually be considered at the Petitions and Representations Board.
My petition concerns an issue affecting the whole Borough - where will this be considered?
Depending on the nature of the petition, petitions affecting the whole of the Borough may be considered by the Petitions and Representations Board or the Executive, or if signed by more than *2135 people, the Full Council.
My petition concerns a licensing issue - where will this be considered?
Petitions relating to liquor licensing matters will be passed to the Licensing Unit for processing. It will then be dealt with in accordance with licensing legislation.
My petition relates to a proposed development - where will this be considered?
Petitions relating to development control matters will be passed to the Development Management service for processing. It will then be dealt with in accordance with Town and Country Planning Legislation
I am organising a petition - will all my contact details be publicly shown on the website?
No, we need to have your details to keep you informed of progress with your petition – they will not be placed on the website.
What will the Council do when it receives my petition?
We will acknowledge your petition within 10 working days and let you know what we plan to do with it; details will also be published on our website.
If my petition is considered at a Full Council meeting, will I be allowed to speak?
Yes, you will be offered the opportunity to present your petition and may speak for a maximum of 5 minutes.
Will the Full Council make a decision about my petition?
If your petition is one on which the Council’s Executive or other Committees are required to make the final decision, the Full Council will decide whether to make recommendations to those bodies for consideration.
March 2024When will I be notified of the outcome of my petition?
We will write to you within 5 working days of the meeting with a formal response to your petition. Details will also be published on the Council’s website.
I do not consider the response to my petition from the Council to be adequate – what can I do?
If your petition has gone through the full process and you are not satisfied with the way your petition has been dealt with, you have the power to ask the Overview and Scrutiny Board to review the Council’s response. Any request for a review must be made to the Chief Executive giving a short explanation of the reasons why you do not consider the response to be adequate. Any request must be made within 10 working days of the Council’s formal response to your petition.
How long will a review of my petition take?
The Overview and Scrutiny Board is a committee of councillors who are responsible for scrutinising the work of the council. The Petitions and Representations Board will deal with the petition as soon as practically possible from the date of receipt.
Has your question been answered?
If you have not been able to find the answer to your question within this section, please call the Democracy Manager on 01582 546038 for help with your petition.