Tandridge District Council has introduced an e-petition service http://petitions.tandridge.gov.uk, which means anyone resident, working or studying in the district can now submit a petition online, as well as in paper form.

A petition is defined by the Council as a written request signed by ten or more people. The petition must concern an issue which is relevant to the Council, or which affects a specific area in the district or its residents. It cannot relate to planning or enforcement issues.

Anyone presenting a petition in person or by post must send it to the Chief Executive, Stephen Weigel, at least fourteen working days before the meeting. If a petition is submitted online using http://petitions.tandridge.gov.uk it will be given to the Chief Executive once the date for signatures has passed. The Chief Executive decides whether a petition is acceptable to be presented.

Once accepted, petitions can be personally presented to any full council or relevant committee meetings. Those presenting the petition will have three minutes to speak in support of the petition. Councillors will consider the petition and take any action they decide is necessary.

Councillor Martin Fisher, Chairman of the Resources Committee, said: “We have accepted petitions by post and in person for many years and this new service is just an easier way for people to ask us to consider a particular issue or service area.”