Petitions
This page provides guidance on how to submit a petition, what matters can be considered by the Council, and how your petition will be dealt with.
Can I raise a petition?
The City and District Council welcomes petitions from those who live, work or study in the area.
Who is the petition organiser?
Each petition should be accompanied by contact details for the petition organiser. If an individual is not identified, we will contact signatories to agree who should act as petition organiser.
Can I sign a petition?
Anyone who lives, works or studies within the St Albans City and District can sign a petition.
What topics can be the subject of my petition?
Your petition must relate to matters for which the District Council has powers or duties, or which may affect residents and those working or studying in the District.
Your petition could cover one of the following:
Council Housing, Sheltered Housing, Housing Advice and Homelessness
Environmental Health, Food Safety and Pest Control
Culture and Community Development, Sport and Recreation
Refuse Collection and Recycling
Local Planning and Building Control including the Local Development Framework and the conservation of buildings and areas
Council Tax Collection including for Hertfordshire County Council, the Fire and Police Authorities and Parish Councils
Business Rates Collection
Housing Benefits
Licensing
Hertfordshire County Council is responsible for other services not listed above.
If the petition is about something over which the Council has no direct control we will consider making representations on behalf of the community to the relevant body. The Council works with a number of local partners through the St Albans and District Local Strategic Partnership and where possible will work with our partners to respond to your petition.
What must my petition include?
Your petition must include:
A clear and concise statement covering the subject of the petition. It should state what action the petitioners wish the Council to take.
The name, address and signature of any person supporting the petition.
Your petition should be accompanied by contact details for the petition organiser. If this is not identified, we will contact signatories to agree who should act as petition organiser.
Your petition must also contain a minimum of 30 signatures.
The Council will not take action on a petition which we consider to be vexatious, abusive or otherwise inappropriate.
How do I submit my petition?
You can submit your petition either in paper form or electronically as an e-petition.
Paper petitions should be addressed to:
Democratic Services Manager
St Albans City and District Council
District Council Offices
St Peter's Street
St Albans
Herts AL1 3JE
An acknowledgement will be sent to the petition organiser within 10 working days of receipt. We will let the organiser know what we plan to do with the petition. The petition (but not the petition organiser's details) will be published on our website.
How will the Council respond to my petition?
Your petition must contain a minimum of 30 signatures.
Petitions with 500 or more signatures
If your petition contains 500 or more signatures it will be debated by Full Council or a relevant Service & Scrutiny Committee, unless it is a petition asking for a senior council officer to give evidence at a public meeting (see Officer Evidence below). The petition organiser will:
Have five minutes to present the petition at the Full Council or or a relevant Service & Scrutiny Committee meeting.
The petition will then be discussed by Councillors for a maximum of 15 minutes.
Petitions with 30 to 500 signatures
If your petition contains fewer than 500 signatures, but more than 30, it will be presented to Full Council or a relevant Service & Scrutiny Committee. The petition organiser will:
Have three minutes to present the petition.
There will be no debate following the presentation of the petition.
Officer Evidence
Your petition may ask for a senior council officer to give evidence at a public meeting. If your petition contains 500 or more signatures the relevant officer will give evidence to the relevant Service & Scrutiny Committee (should it choose to examine the matter).
When might these procedures not apply?
Other procedures will apply if your petition relates to a planning or licensing application, is a statutory petition or relates to a matter where there is already an existing right of appeal.
Who can I contact for further information?
Further information is available on request from Democratic Services - democraticservices@stalbans.gov.uk.
