We particularly welcome petitions as one way in which you can let us know your concerns. We set out below how the District Council will respond to petitions that you send to us.
What is a petition?
We treat as a petition any communication that is signed by or sent to us on behalf of a number of people. A communication needs at least 10 signatories or petitioners before we treat it as a petition. Whilst we like to hear from people who live, work or study in the Derbyshire Dales, this is not a requirement and we would take equally seriously a petition from, for example, 10 visitors to the District on the subject of facilities at one of our Leisure Centres.
What should a petition contain?
a clear statement of your concerns and what you want the District Council to do. This must relate to something that is the responsibility of the District Council, or over which we have some influence the name and contact details of the "petition-organiser" or someone to whom you would like any correspondence about the petition to be sent. Contact details may be either a postal address or an Email address the names of at least 10 petitioners (can include the petition organiser). Where the petition is in paper form, this can include an actual signature from each petitioner, but an actual signature is not essential. Where the petition is in electronic form, a list of the names and addresses of the petitioners will suffice. 10 signatories is the minimum requirement and more supporters are necessary for some types of petition to succeed a petition in response to consultation on a specific matter, should identify the matter that it relates to, so that we can ensure that it is considered along with original matter
To whom should you send a petition?
Where you submit a petition in response to consultation by the District Council, please address it to the return address set out in the consultation invitation. This will ensure that it is reported when the matter to which it relates is considered.
We have appointed a Petitions Officer, who is responsible for receiving, managing and reporting all other petitions sent to the District Council. Please address petitions to the Petition Officer.
The Petitions Officer will ensure that a petition is acknowledged to the petition organiser. The Petitions Officer can also provide advice about how to petition the District Council or on the progress of your petition, at either the above address or by telephone.
Electronic (ePetition)
One of the easiest ways to set up an e-petition is through our website You can set up an electronic petition through our website.
View information on how to set up an e-petition or look at existing petitions
Referendum petition numbers requirement
Regulation 4 of the Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions) (England) Regulations 2011 provides for the holding of a referendum on whether the Council should change to a different form of governance or an Elected Mayor. For this to happen at least 5% of local government electors within the District must sign a petition.
Each year in February the Council publishes the minimum number of signatures which would be needed to support a valid petition requiring the Council to hold a referendum. (Local Government Act 2000)
The number in the notice below will apply to any petition submitted to the Council from now until the new figure is published in February 2023.
In accordance with Regulation 4(1) of the regulations the number that is equal to 5% of the number of local government electors shown in the revised register of electors having effect on the 15th February 2024 is 2,892
Dealing with your petition
Within 5 working days of receipt, the Petitions Officer will acknowledge receipt to the petition organiser.
In some cases, the Petitions Officer may be able to resolve the petitioners' request directly, by getting the relevant Officer to take appropriate action. For example where the petition relates to fly-tipping and the District Council can arrange for it to be cleared up directly. Where this is done, the Petitions Officer will ask the petition organiser whether s/he considers that the matter is resolved.
Unless the matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of the petition organiser, the Petitions Officer will aim, within 10 working days of receipt of the petition, to provide a substantive response to the petition organiser setting out to whom petition will be reported to for consideration, when and where that will take place and inviting the petition organiser to attend that meeting, or be represented, and to address the meeting for up to 3 minutes on the issue covered by the petition.
Whilst we are committed to dealing with petitions promptly, a petition will normally need to be received at least 10 working days before a relevant meeting if it is to be reported to that meeting. Where it is necessary to undertake a significant amount of work to collect information and advice to enable the matter to be properly considered, it may be necessary for the Petitions Officer to decide that the petition will be held over until the following meeting of the relevant body.
At the same time as responding to the petition organiser, the Petitions Officer will notify the relevant Committee Chair and Ward Member of receipt of the petition.
Types of Petitions
Ordinary
Number of signatures Required; 10+
Subject Matter: Anything within the remit or sphere of influence of the District Council that doesn't fit any of the other petition categories
Who will consider it: The Officer and/or Committee that is responsible for the issue raised.
What happens next: Petitioner can address the meeting that considers the petition. Will be advised of outcome within 7 days.
Consultation
Number of signatures Required: 10+
Subject Matter: Response to consultation by the District Council on planning, licensing or any other issue.
Who will consider it: It will be considered by the appropriate committee as part of the report on the outcome of the consultation exercise at the meeting when they take the decision.
What happens next: The decision of the Committee will be recorded in the minutes. There will not, usually, be any avenue for appeal, except in the case of applicants for planning permission or licences.
Statutory
Number of signatures Required: Varies accordance with Statutory Requirements.
Subject Matter: Petition allowed by various Acts of Parliament for things like a review of Parish Councils or a request for a directly elected Mayor.
Who will consider it: It will be reported to the next available meeting of the Council, in accordance with Statutory Requirements.
What happens next: Provided the petition is submitted in accordance with the relevant statute, the requested review or election etc will be arranged.
For Debate
Number of signatures Required: 700 (or 150 where the issue relates to no more than 2 electoral Wards).
Subject Matter: Anything within the remit or sphere of influence of the District Council that doesn't fit any of the other petition categories.
Who will consider it: will be reported to the next available meeting of the Council. The Petitioner will have an opportunity to speak for 3 minutes.
What happens next: The Committee will make a decision or refer to matter to an Officer for decision. You will be informed of the outcome within 7 working days.
Hold an Officer to account
Number of signatures Required: 700 (or 150 where the issue relates to no more than 2 electoral Wards).
Subject Matter: To answer questions of a particular Officer on the conduct of a particular matter. Limited to particular senior posts..
Who will consider it: Will take place at a meeting of the Scrutiny Committee. You will be asked to provide a list of questions in advance and their suitability will be assessed by the Chairman. Petitioner will have opportunity to address Committee for 3 minutes.
What happens next: The Committee will make a decision or refer to matter to an Officer for decision. You will be informed of the outcome within 7 working days.
Petitions not accepted
Petitions that will not be reported are:
Duplicate petitions
Where more than one petition is received in time for a particular meeting, each supporting the same outcome on one matter, each petition organiser will be treated as an independent petition organiser, but only the petition organiser of the first petition to be received will be invited to address the relevant meeting. This does not prevent any other member of the public addressing the meeting during the specific public time allotted at each meeting. Where possible the Council will inform each petition organiser of the duplication and provide details if we are able.
Repeat Petitions
Were a petition will not normally be considered where they are received within 6 months of another petition being considered by the District Council on the same matter.
Rejected Petitions
Petitions will not be reported if in the opinion of the Petitions Officer, they are rude, offensive, defamatory, scurrilous or time-wasting, or do not relate to something which is the responsibility of the District Council, or over which the District Council has some influence.
Petitions relating to Planning and Licensing
Petitions relating to Planning and Licensing matters will not be considered outside of the proper consideration of the matter. So for example a petition following a planning decision by the appropriate committee will not be considered as there are proper statutory routes for appealing such decisions and these are laid out in the appropriate legislation.
Petitions relating to Data Protection
Use of individuals' personal data including their email addresses will be protected under the terms of the Data Protection Act 2018 and will be held by the District Council only for the purpose of corresponding in relation to the petition submitted.
