A person may lodge a petition with the Council to request action to be taken on a matter.
A petition must comply with the relevant requirements of Part 6 of the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act). Here is a guide which includes a template to assist.
It is up to the person lodging the petition to ensure that the petition compiles with the requirements of the Act.
If a petition does not comply with the requirements of section 57 of the Act then it cannot be tabled at a Council meeting according to section 58 of the Act.
Even if your petition does not comply, your issues will be dealt with by the Council as correspondence and responded to by Council Officers.
A petition can be a good way to communicate issues to Council on behalf of many residents and is usually a last resort. If there is something that you want Council to do, it is always encouraged that you first contact Council to understand more about the process involved or whether Council can assist with the problem. The best contact methods to receive a written response from Council are:
Send an email to council@kentish.tas.gov.au; or
Send a letter to PO Box 63, SHEFFIELD TAS 7306.
Steps for lodging a petition
A person lodging a petition is to ensure that the petition complies with section 57 of the Act.
For a paper petition, you must ensure there is:
- A clear and concise statement identifying the subject matter and action requested; and
- A heading on each page indicating the subject matter; and
- A brief statement on each page of the subject matter and the action requested; and
- A statement specifying the number of signatories; and
- At the end of the petition the full printed name, address and signature of the person lodging the petition.
For an electronic petition, you must ensure there is:
- A clear and concise statement identifying the subject matter and action requested; and
- A statement specifying the number of signatories; and
- At the end of the petition the full name and address of the person lodging the petition and a statement by that person certifying that the statement of the subject matter and the action requested, as set out at the beginning of the petition, has not been changed.
A person may lodge a petition with the Council by presenting it to a Councillor or the General Manager.
A Councillor who has been presented with a petition is required to forward it to the General Manager within seven (7) days after receiving the petition.
The General Manager who has been presented with a petition or receives a petition from a Councillor is required to table the petition at the next ordinary meeting of the Council.
A petition will not be tabled if:
- - it does not comply with the above requirements; or
- - it is defamatory; or
- - any action it proposes is unlawful.
The General Manager is to advise the lodger of a petition that is not tabled the reason for not tabling the petition within 21 days after lodgement.
Tabling of the petition means that the petition is presented to the Council and will be considered by Council at a later stage. The General Manager is to give reasonable written notice to the person lodging the petition of when it is to be considered by the Council.
The Council is to record in the minutes of the meeting to which it is presented (tabled) the subject matter and number of signatories of the petition.
The Council is to determine any action to be taken in respect of the petition within 42 days after it has been tabled and the lodger of the petition will be advised of that decision.