South Gloucestershire residents have been denied the right to require their Council to debate an issue unless they have a massive 2,500 signatures on a petition.

At the Council Meeting on 20 October, the Tory administration backed by Labour Councillors threw out proposals put forward by the Lib Dems for the number of signatures required to trigger a debate to be reduced to 500 with a commitment to consider any request with less.

Mike Drew  pointed out that 500 was a large enough number to deter those whose motive was just to waste time. “If we really are the listening Council that we claim to be, it is also important to have the flexibility to have a Council debate on any petition when it is requested or to explain in public why not”, he added.

Linda Boon was concerned that smaller communities would never be able to get 2,500 signatures so it would be unfair on people living in rural areas.

“We spend time in Council meetings talking to ourselves, with many Councillors obviously bored with the discussion”, said Pat Hockey. “If we send out the message that we are interested in the issues raised by petitioners and ready to debate them, they may come along and make Council meetings more lively and worthwhile. If 500 people want their Council to debate something then I certainly believe it must be important and that it is our duty as a listening council to do so.”

Dave Hockey added, “The Council claims on its website that ‘We’re committed to getting involved – working with, listening to and involving local people in our decision-making and action.’ Our proposal would have put those words into action. Why are the other parties so afraid of discussing what local people would like to be done?”

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