We have a maximum of 12 months please sign as soon as possible petition closes 10th May 2022.

Note: You must be a registered voter for Leeds City Council elections to sign this petition. For the signature to be count you must give your first name and surname as on the electoral register (no initials/nicknames & if you have changed your name on getting married, please give both surnames!) plus your address including postcode.

In the current "Strong Leader and Cabinet" model of governance just a few Executive Councillors in Leeds City Council are given the power to make nearly all Council decisions. In this undemocratic decision-making system, the other Councillors (from all parties) have little or no say. This petition is about making the Council change to use a more democratic decision-making system, where all Councillors actually have the power to represent the people that elected them. If you are registered to vote in Leeds, sign now.

“We, the undersigned, being local government electors for the area of Leeds City Council, to whom this petition is addressed, seek a referendum on whether the council should be run in a different way by one or more committees made up of elected councillors.”

This petition is a one-off opportunity for voters in Leeds to start the process of changing how our Council works, and has legal force so cannot be ignored!
Don't miss this unique opportunity - If you are registered to vote in Leeds, sign now.

Many voters are shocked to learn about the system used to make decisions in our Council. Many councillors (of all parties) are unhappy because they can't put forward their constituents’ views, and many of us are aware of problems in our local areas which the Council hasn't dealt with properly. A lot of people realise that top down decision-making, and power in the hands of only 10 Executive Board councillors, simply does not work.

Other councils have already stopped using the undemocratic system of decision-making currently used by Leeds City Council, and have changed to use a modern committee system. In this new system all the councillors that people vote in, do have a voice and meaningful role. Councillors focus on working together, and with their communities and outside experts, to make better, informed decisions. Cities that have made this change work much better for their people and communities, and by everyone working together are more resilient against the effects of austerity.

So far, Leeds Council has decided not to change, and wants to keep power and decision-making in the hands of the few. But the Localism Act (2011) gives local communities the legal right to change the way that councils operate.

To force change, we need to present a petition to the Council signed by at least 5% of the local electorate in Leeds (that’s about 30,000 names in total) within a year (by May 2022). Then, the Council, by law, must hold a city-wide vote giving all voters in Leeds the option of changing to a modern committee system or keeping the current undemocratic system.

This legislation has already been used in a number of other places around the UK. In some cases, the petition led to a vote where the public voted to set up a committee system. In other cases the starting of a petition led their Council to decide to move to a committee system voluntarily, without the need for a vote.

By signing this petition, you are giving your support to a system which will ensure:

• ALL our elected representatives can play a meaningful role in making decisions in our city.
• Decision-making is more open and transparent so we can see more of what is going on in our name.
• Improved partnership and collaborative working - not only within the Council, but with community groups and specialist organisations, so we can be sure that the best is being done for our city at all times.

If you think that a change to a modern committee system would benefit our city, then please sign this petition and allow ALL Leeds voters to have their say.

People and communities can work together and do have the power to make a real difference. After all, democracy should be about all of us - not a few people on the Executive of the Council.

PLEASE ENTER YOUR FULL NAME INTO THE 'NAME' FIELD!

_____________

TARGET: The required legal target for validated signatures is 48,000. We are collecting signatures in this online petition.

VALID SIGNATURES: Signatures on this petition will only be valid if they are from registered voters for the Leeds City Council authority area.

The name and address used when signing must match those recorded in the electoral register.

SIGNING USING FACEBOOK OR TWITTER: If your Facebook or Twitter name is not the name on the electoral register, please sign the petition using your name and email address instead.

ADDRESSEE: This petition is addressed to Leeds City Council.

PETITION ORGANISER: Paul Drinkwater, Not the Same, 12 Monkswood Walk, Seacroft, Leeds, LS14 1DL

DATA PROTECTION: Your data will be processed under the GDPR. The primary data controller is Paul Drinkwater, and your details will only be used for the purpose of this petition. After signing, you will be contacted by the iPetitions site. In accordance with the petition legislation, Leeds City Council will become the data controller when the petition is submitted to them, and your name and address may be published.

http://www.notthesame.org.uk