Petitions
We welcome petitions and recognise they are one way you can let us know your concerns.
However, they are not the only way, and often the easiest or quickest way to resolve an issue or to make your views known is:
- contact the relevant Council Service directly, see A to Z, or
- if you have a concern relating to your local area or neighbourhood, contact your local Councillor, see Calderdale Councillors, or Ward forum, see
If you wish to make a complaint about a Council Service then you should instead use the our Complaints process, see Compliments and complaints
The Petitions Scheme
The Petitions Scheme sets out how to submit a petition and how we will deal with petitions we receive. This is a summary of the scheme and it is recommended that you read the full document before starting a petition:
The details of all petitions received and their final response or outcome are available:
Start a petition
A petition can be organised or signed by anyone who lives or works in the Calderdale area. A petition must include:
- A clear and concise statement on the subject of the petition, and what action the petitioners would like the Council to take;
- Contact details, including address, of the petition organiser - the person we will contact about our response and if there any media enquiries.
Please note that we will only use the name of the organiser on the website. The details of people supporting the petition will not be published on the website.
We advise that you include the following wording on each page of your petition that will contain signatures:
Calderdale Council will become the data controller when the petition is submitted to the Council. The details you provide on this form will only be used for the purpose of this petition. Your information may be shared with the petition organiser, Councillors, Council officers or service providers.
A petition template is available for you to download and use:
Submit a petition
You can send your petition to us in the post or by email, or hand it in at any Council offices. Contact details are at the end of the page. Alternatively your local Councillor can present the petition on your behalf at an ordinary meeting of the full Council.
We won’t accept
- Petitions which are considered to be abusive, vexatious, libellous or otherwise inappropriate;
- Petitions relating to planning or licensing applications - these are outside of the scheme, and will be forwarded on to the appropriate service to be considered as part of the determination of the application.
How we will respond
We will acknowledge all petitions within 10 working days of receipt. This will include details of what we plan to do with the petition, depending on what the petition asks for and how many people have signed it:
- Petitions with 2,000 or more signatures:
will trigger a debate by the full Council at the next ordinary Council meeting where all Councillors can attend the meeting and ensure that they have adequate time to prepare for the debate; - Petitions with 500 or more signatures, but less than 2,000:
will be referred to the appropriate Scrutiny Panel for consideration;
Scrutiny Panels are an important and specialist role for all Councillors who are not part of the Cabinet arrangements, with processes to enable them to review and challenge decisions, policies and services, inform decision making and offer recommendations for the Cabinet and other agencies to consider. - Petitions with less than 500 signatures:
will be referred to the appropriate Council Service for consideration of what action might be taken in accordance with existing policies and budget provision.
We will advise you of the final response to the petition and the reasons for it. This will normally outline the steps we have taken to consider the issue, including the involvement of Councillors. The response also explains how the petition organiser can request a review if it is felt that the petition was not dealt with properly.
We will publish details of petitions received and the final response / outcome of the petition on the Council’s website.
Contact us about petitions
If you require any further information please contact Democratic Support:
- Telephone
- 01422 393016
- democratic.support@calderdale.gov.uk
- Address
- Democratic Support
Calderdale MBC
Town Hall
Crossley Street
Halifax HX1 1UJ
Data Protection
Use of individuals’ personal data, including their address/email addresses, will be protected under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 and will be held by us only for the purpose of corresponding in relation to the petition submitted.
Your information may be shared with the petition organiser, Councillors, Council officers or service providers.
