This in from the council, in their own words. Ed
The Isle of Wight Council is reviewing the way it handles petitions following recent issues surrounding a number which have been compiled via online facilities.
Executive member for corporate governance, Councillor Jonathan Bacon, told a meeting of the Full Council (Wednesday 18 June) that the council’s Constitution Working Party is reviewing the approach.
This will include looking at the acceptance of electronic petitions under the constitution and what form of identification for signatories to a petition will be valid.
Returning to full council in July
It is planned that a revised petition scheme will be put before the Full Council meeting for approval in July.
Petitions which meet the criteria under the council’s constitution can prompt a debate at Full Council. However, those which do not satisfy the current rules are still taken account of and considered by the council, but without a debate taking place.
Cllr Bacon: “Valid expressions of views are always given attention”
Councillor Bacon said:
“It is hoped a review of this issue will provide us with a more adaptable yet still robust way in which we deal with petitions. This will include how we deal with electronic petitions.
“It is not the case that petitions which do not currently satisfy the rules in the constitution to secure a debate are ignored or not taken account of. Valid expressions of views are always given attention and taken account of.”
Multiple entries need to be prevented
Under the existing constitution there is a need to enable the council to verify the numbers of people signing a petition to prevent someone making multiple entries. Currently a written signature is deemed to be the only mechanism that allows this process to take place. Alternatives could include acceptance of an individual person’s email address although this could still mean that a person with several email accounts can sign up to a petition more than once.
Councillor Bacon said:
“We will find a way to deal with these issues in a satisfactory manner which will then allow most, if not all, petitions which attract a sufficient number of signatures to be debated by the Full Council, whether in paper or electronic form.”
Image: Shawn Campbell under CC BY 2.0
