The Right To Call For A Local Referendum

Referendum to change the Council's governance arrangements.

Registered electors have the right to raise a petition calling for a referendum on the matter of changing the Council's governance arrangements.

Under the Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions) (England) Regulations 2011, one of the things Basildon Council must do each February is to inform people about their right to ask for a referendum on the matter of changing the Council's governance arrangements. Basildon Council must also publish the number of signatures needed for a valid petition to trigger such a referendum.

Regulations under the Act provide for a referendum to be held where at least 5% of local government electors petition the Council for a referendum on whether the Council should change to a different form of governance.

The Council's Proper Officer has published the number of electors that is equal to 5% of the number registered to vote at a local government election in Basildon as shown on the Electoral Register on 1 February 2023.

The 5% figure for Basildon this year is 6,928. This number will have effect for the purposes of determining the validity of petitions presented between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.

Submitting a call for a referendum

The address of the Council's principal office to which any petitions should be sent is:

Further information and enquiries

• Contact Paul Burkinshaw, Director of Corporate Strategy & Governance and Monitoring Officer
  • Phone: 01268 207972
  • Email: paul.burkinshaw@basildon.gov.uk
• Contact the Electoral Services Team.