The Petitions Committee will meet today at 2:00pm at the City Chambers under the convenership of Councillor Maggie Chapman (Green Group) to consider the four petitions it has received since 8 October 2012. You can read all the papers here or you may be able to watch the proceedings live.
There is really only one which is active as two of those received have been deemed invalid and the other is ongoing as it has not yet received enough signatures. The petition which is to be discussed is the position regarding public transport to Kirkliston and South Queensferry both areas of the Almond Ward. It is supported by almost 800 signatures and demands that the council look at providing better public transport to the residents who say that they do not even have a bus service to the airport despite being very close to it.
The council is urged to plug the gap until a commercial operation is set up.
The petition which is ongoing and which will need more signatures to be considered at this committee is the matter of dog control on shared paths, which would mean that any dogs being walked on paths shared by cyclists and horses would have to be on a leash.
The council hopes that members of the public will take this opportunity to influence Council decisions in the city by using the new Petitions Committee.
Taking part in or creating a petition is one way that individuals, community groups and organisations can get involved in what the Council does. It allows people to raise issues of public concern and gives Councillors the opportunity to consider the need for change.
The Committee is part of a package of measures and a new committee structure aimed at creating a more accessible and transparent organisation by opening up decision-making and improving scrutiny of the Council’s work. The meeting will also be webcast live as part of a year long pilot programme aimed at opening up democracy in the city.
Members of the public and local businesses can make use of the Council’s e-petition facility. Paper petition forms can also be downloaded from the Council’s webpages and are available from libraries and other Council buildings.
Convener of the Petitions Committee, Councillor Maggie Chapman, said: “The Petitions Committee will give a voice to members of the public who wish to raise issues the Council is not already addressing. I urge people to use this new opportunity to participate in local politics and to help improve the lives of people living, working and visiting our city. I am pleased that, in addition to the meetings in the City Chambers, we will also be taking the committee ‘on tour’ to reach a wider audience, and we will also ensure our young people are included by having youth focussed events.”
There is a range of agreed criteria for a petition to satisfy prior to confirmation of validity and consideration by the Committee. Matters that will not be considered include those currently being considered by a committee, included in a work programme or those that relate to a council or committee decision that has been made in the previous six months.
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