Petitions Guidance/Frequently Asked Questions

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Petitioning is one way that individuals, community groups and organisations can participate in the democratic process, by raising issues of public concern with the Council and allowing Councillors to consider the need for change either within the borough or on a wider scale.

In addition to paper petitions, Kingston Counciloffers an online petitioning service so you can publish and collect signatures on your petition through this website.

What can petitions achieve?

Petitions sent in to the Council can have positive outcomes that lead to change or inform debate.

For example, petitions can:

• bring an issue to the attention of the Council, for example, traffic calming measures or a new public swimming pool;
• show strong public approval or disapproval to something that the Council, or another organisation, is doing;
• call in a decision that has been made by the Council (within five working days of the decision having been published).

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What issues can a petition relate to?

Petitions should be relevant to a matter to which the Council has powers, or duties which affect the Council. However, petitions can be raised concerning other organisations, and the Council may support these if it also feels strongly about them (for example, Post Office Closures).

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Can I sign a petition?

Principal petitioners and people signing petitions (signatories) do not have to be residents of the Royal Borough of Kingston, but should be interested people; that is someone who lives, works, goes shopping, visits, goes to school or owns a business in the borough.

Generally, the minimum number of signatories for a petition will be 10. However, there is no set minimum or maximum number of names required on a petition.

Can I raise a petition?

To raise a petition, you do not have to be a resident of the Royal Borough of Kingston, but you should be an interested party; that is someone who lives, works, goes shopping, visits, goes to school or owns a business in the borough. Children can raise, sign or submit a petition - there are no age restrictions. If the Council feels strongly about an issue which has to do with another organisation, they may also support a petition.

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How do I start a petition?

There is no particular process for starting a paper petition. Generally you and other key petitioners will gather signatures until a date you have decided in advance. You may wish to contact the Council to check if your petition’s content is acceptable to present at a Council meeting.

To produce an e-petition, you must complete this online form and submit it to the Council. You will then be contacted to check your contact details. You may also be asked to explain some of the petition’s information. The Council will then organise for the petition to be published online.

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What should my petition contain?

A petition should include a brief title and a short, clear and concise statement covering the subject of the petition. It should clearly state what action the petitioner wishes the Council to take. The petition will be returned to you to explain further if it is unclear.

Paper petitions must clearly display:

• the title/subject of the petition;
• the principal petitioner’s contact address (which we will write to about the petition);
• the name, address and signature of anyone supporting the petition.

E-petitions must follow the e-petitions online form and must clearly display:

• the title/subject of the petition;
• the principal petitioner’s contact address (which we will write to about the petition);
• the name and location (specific to Neighbourhood or outside of the borough) of any person supporting the petition;  *
• the starting and closing date of the petition.

The contact details of the principal petitioner are essential. The contact details of all other petitioners are also required in case details need to be checked.

The information in a petition must be submitted in good faith. You must not knowingly include:

• false or defamatory statements;
• information protected by an interdict or court order (e.g. the identities of children in custody disputes);
• material which is commercially sensitive, confidential or which may cause personal distress or loss;
• the names of individual officials of public bodies;
• the names of individuals, or information where they may be easily identified, in relation to criminal accusations;
• offensive language, such as obvious swear words or language that is intemperate, inflammatory, sarcastic or provocative, or to which people reading it could reasonably take offence.

Once submitted, petitions will become public documents accessible via the website. You should take care not to include any information or signatures that they would not want to be public.

Petitions that do not follow these guidelines will not be accepted. In these cases, you will be informed in writing of the reasons why a petition cannot be accepted.

* Please note: The addresses and email details of people signing e-petitions will be collected, but will not be published online. Only the location information is published online (for instance, specific to Neighbourhood or outside of the Borough).

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How do I submit a petition for Council consideration?

Petitions can be presented by a Councillor on your behalf at a Full Council meeting, and one of the petitioners can speak to the Council for up to five minutes. Petitions can also be submitted at Neighbourhood meetings (usually during public question time) or sent to the appropriate department at the Council.

Before an e-petition’s closing date, its principal petitioner will be asked how they would like to present their e-petition. If they do not want to present it personally, they can ask for it to be directly submitted to the suitable person or group for a response.

Principal petitioners may wish to set their petition’s time limit so that it is finished in time for a particular Council meeting (e.g. Full Council, Neighbourhood meeting).

Please note: Petitions about planning applications will be considered at meetings where the planning application is being considered (i.e. the Neighbourhood Committee or the Development Control Committee).

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What happens after the petition is submitted?

Once the petition has been submitted it will be passed to the relevant meeting for consideration along with a related report. If it is sent directly to Council, they may debate it in Full Council.  

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Privacy Statement

Your e-petition details will be held in computer readable form to allow the principal petitioner to administer and submit the petition you have signed. Only your name and neighbourhood will be visible from the e-petitions site. Your full name and address will be submitted to the Council.

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How can I find out more information?

For more information, please contact:

Democratic Services
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
High Street
Kingston upon Thames
KT1 1EU
Telephone: 020 8547 5021
Email: epetitions@rbk.kingston.gov.uk

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