ICELE makes nine recommendations for local petitioning

The Governance of Britain Green Paper (July 2007), said that petitions can provide an important way for communities to express their views and generate local debate, boosting the relationship between residents and councils. It also announced the government's intention to consult on people's right to 'call for action' and the strengthened role of councillors in that process.

A recent consultation sought views on how arrangements for local petitions can be strengthened and how the new system might operate.

The focus of our response was around the concept of electronic or 'e' petitions, as highlighted in point 28 of the original consultation. This includes the way that electronic petitions and paper petitions should converge.

ICELE (International Centre of Excellence for Local eDemocracy) recommendations at a glance:-

1. That a clearer definition of 'electronic petition' is provided.
2. That Local Authorities support the quest of the petitioner by providing guidance whenever
   possible and respond to petitions within a reasonable, defined time-frame.
3. That Local Authorities have a duty to pass-on petitions to the relevant national or local
   authority if the subject of the petition is not within their jurisdiction. Likewise that they act
   on petitions received from other government bodies on issues that are within their
   jurisdiction.
4. That Local Authorities confirm safe receipt of petitions and keep an archive of closed
   petitions.
5. That Local Authorities must have the means of receiving petitions by email.
6. That Local Authorities recognise digital signatures in the same way as paper signatures
7. That Local Authorities determine their own schema for the level of response in reaction to
   any particular petition, based on the number of signatories or otherwise.
8. That the duty revolves around the requirement for all Local Authorities to define a local
   approach with mandatory elements on how petitions should be handled (such as those
   points above).
9. That the department explores the option of a national petitioning gateway - as described
   within the response

• View the entire ICELE response by clicking here (PDF)