Local Authorities Referendums

Required number for referendum petition published

Herefordshire Council has published a notice which sets out the minimum number of signatures which would be need to support a valid petition requiring the Council to hold a referendum on whether the District should change to a different form of governance.

The minimum number of signatures (equivalent to 5% of the Districts local government electorate) is 7108.  The District Council is required, by the Local Government Act 2000 to publish this number each year.

The above number will be used for verification purposes in relation to any petition submitted to the District Council before 1 April 2013.  However, a new number will be published in February 2013 and if the number is less than 7108, then the new number will apply from the date it is published.

The rules which apply to the submission of a valid petition for a change to council governance referendum are set out in the The Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions) (England) Regulations 2011.  Statutory Instrument 2011 No. 2914.