From The Daily Telegraph, 6 September, via Christina Speight:
"Residents in a hamlet on the Purbeck peninsular in Dorset have taken on the political establishment and won the right to have their say on a European Union referendum. In two weeks the parish of East Stoke, in the Frome river valley near Wareham will hold the country’s first vote to demand a referendum on the new EU treaty.
The poll will ask East Stoke’s 396 voters “Do you want a referendum on the proposed new EU treaty?”
Campaigner John Barnes used a little-known provision of the 1972 Local Government Act to insist, against opposition from Tory councillors, that East Stoke’s voters have a voice on the EU.
Up to 17 other parishes in the South West are expected to follow East Stoke’s example."
Does anybody know how this works?
Forbidden Bible Verses — Genesis 43:24-34
3 hours ago
5 comments:
Yes i am already looking into this. I want to try and organise a couple in my area. I believe you need something like 8 parish residents to call for a parish meeting to be held. At the meeting the question is put about holding a parish poll and the question to be asked. And, i think, so long as 1/3rd of those present agree then a poll has to be held.
But procedure has to be followed or it can be rejected.
Thanks. I take it you will do a post on your blog on this once you've worked out the rules?
Hope this helps you.
Jonathan Miller
HOW TO GET A LOCAL REFERENDUM
This article appeared in the January 2002 issue of Sovereignty. The info originally appeared in SchNEWS, Issue 182, 4-9-98, schnews.org.uk
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Not many people know that the following extraordinarily democratic provision exists in England and Wales. It can be usefully exploited by activists on any number of issues. We need more of this kind of direct democracy.
Under the 1972 Local Government Act, civic Parish Councils in England (Community Councils in Wales) can vote to request their local District Council to hold a referendum on any issue of concern to the local parish.
Once the Parish Council has voted in favour, the District Council has to carry out the referendum.
1 - Choose the issue.
2 - Decide the wording of the question.
3 - With at least five other local parish residents, approach the Parish Council and request a Parish Council meeting.
4 - Advertise the meeting.
5 - At least 10 people must be present at the meeting, where a formal motion must be put forward to support a referendum (the wording of the referendum must be part of the resolution) and a vote taken.
6 - The motion can only be carried if a third of those present, or at least 10 (whichever is the least) vote in favour.
7 - Take the resolution to the District Council and submit a request for a referendum, invoking your right under Schedule 12, Part III, para.18(4) and (5) at page 2275 of the Local Government Act (1972). In Wales it is Schedule 12, Part V, para.34(4) and (5) at page 2279. The District Council must respond within a week and the referendum has to be held within 14-25 days of the request being submitted.
8 - Publicise the referendum and campaign for your cause.
Getting the Council to do anything about the issue is, of course, the next step after winning the referendum, but your case will be strengthened with a democratic mandate.
"peninsular": aaaargh.
PA, I just cut and pasted the text, I didn't spot that 'til later.
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