Page content section :
Citizens'
rights and responsibilities
Residents on the Electoral Register may vote.
They may also petition to request a referendum for an elected mayor form of Council Constitution :
- Anyone can organise a petition for a referendum for a directly elected Mayor.
- Councils may not hold more than one legally binding referendum for a directly elected mayor in any five year period. So depending on the circumstances, a petition may not automatically trigger a referendum.
- A petition is one of the principal ways of getting to a referendum for a directly elected mayor. It is a route open to anyone who thinks that a mayor would benefit their local community.
- see also Petitioning for Elected Mayors / Mayoral Petition
They may attend Council, its Committees (except where confidential or exempt items appear) and have access to all the relevant paperwork.
They may examine the Council's accounts.
They may ask questions and make statements at Council and its committees and contribute to investigations held by Development and Scrutiny committees.
They may complain to the Council, the Ombudsman or the Standards Board for England.
Councillors and Council staff have a legitimate expectation to be treated courteously; residents have responsibilities not to be violent, abusive or threatening to them.
For further information please contact Democratic Services.
