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Councils to be forced into responding to local petitions

31/12/2007

Salford MP and communities secretary Hazel Blears has proposed an initiative to help people in Greater Manchester raise concerns such as anti-social behaviour with local councillors.

This means that councils would be legally obliged for the first time to respond to petitions submitted by residents who were anxious about a particular issue.

If a council ignores the petition or the response is unsatisfactory, residents will be able to ask for a select committee-style hearing so that concerns can be debated.

Ms Blears said: "These new powers would mean the concerns of local people can no longer be filed away and ignored, and ensure we have a more responsive culture.

"New petition powers would put more influence, power and control in the hands of communities, leading to greater action to tackle their concerns and improving the health of our local democracy."

Only 250 signatures on a petition, or one per cent of the population in any one borough, is required for the council to obliged to respond.

The plans could be enforced next year, depending on whether parliamentary legislation is first required.