Agenda item

(1)       In respect of the recommendation to the County Council, Mr P B Carter moved, seconded by Mr A J King that the number of signatures required to trigger a debate at County Council be reduced to 10,000 persons who live, work or study in Kent; that petitions that achieve between 2,500 and 9,999 signatures be referred to the relevant Cabinet Committee (subject to the agreement of the Chairman of the relevant Cabinet Committee and the Cabinet Portfolio Holder); that district petitions of 1,000 or more signatures be considered at the most appropriate local level (usually by a Local Board, Locality Board or a Joint Transportation Board); that petitions with fewer than 1,000 signatures be referred to the relevant Cabinet Portfolio Holder who will decide on the most appropriate course of action, which may include a discussion at a Local Board, Locality Board or Joint Transportation Board; and that the revised arrangements be reviewed after one year. 

(2)       Mr T Prater moved, seconded by Mr G Cowan as an amendment that the number of signatures required to trigger a debate at County Council meetings be set at 7,000.  This amendment was withdrawn following the seconder’s withdrawal of his support for the amendment.

(3)       On being put to the vote, the motion set out in (1) above was carried unanimously.

(4)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)       the petition scheme recommended to the County Council together with the amendments and aspects to be retained as set out below;

(i)         that petitions should be signed by people who live, work or study in Kent and that otherwise there be no change to the details that must be included for a petition to be valid – as set out in paragraphs 3(3) & (4) of the report;

(ii)        the timescale for processing and responding to petitions be retained as set out in paragraph 3(5) of the report;

(iii)       the replacement of the current list of ways that the County Council will respond to petitions with the following wording:

“Each petition that does not have the required number of signatures to trigger a debate will receive a written response from the appropriate Cabinet Member(s), which will set out their views on the petition and what action, if any, will be taken.“   (as set out in paragraphs 3 (6) to(8) of the report);

(iv)       the provision to consider petitions on matters outside the County Council’s direct remit but over which it may have some influence be retained as set out in paragraph 3 (9) of the report;

(v)        the amended provision for a debate at County Council to be triggered by a petition that achieves 10,000 or more signatures, the provision for debates for those petitions that achieve between 2,500 and 9,999 signatures at the appropriate Cabinet Committee; district petitions of 1,000 or more signatures be considered at the most appropriate local level (usually by a Local Board, Locality Board or a Joint Transportation Board) and provision for petitions that achieve up to 1,000 signatures to be referred to the appropriate Cabinet Member(s) for response as set out in paragraphs 3 (10) & (11) of the report, which may include a discussion at a Local Board, Locality Board or Joint Transportation Board and that;

(vi)       the time allocated to the lead petitioner and Cabinet Member to speak on the petition at County Council or Cabinet Committees debates be amended to three minutes as set out in paragraph 3 (12) of the report;

(vii)      the retention of the facility for e-petitions as set out in paragraphs 3 (13) & (14) of the report;

(viii)     the removal of the requirement for an officer to give evidence at the Scrutiny Committee if a petition requesting this achieves a certain number of signatures as set out in paragraph 3 (15) of the report); and

(ix)              the process set out in the scheme for reviewing the way that a petition has been dealt with be amended to refer any requests to the Selection and Member Services Committee and the terms of reference of that Committee be amended accordingly as set out in paragraphs 3 (16) & (17) of the report; and

(b)       the petition scheme agreed by the County Council be reviewed by the Committee after 12 months.