Petitions

A petition (or joint letter) is a formal written request to Melton City Council, signed by at least 12 people.

Petitions request that Council take specific action or refrain from taking action on a particular matter that Council has control over or is in a position to advocate to other levels of government. 

Anyone may organise a petition and submit it to Council in accordance with Council's Governance Rules.

The petition must:

  • have the full request written at the top of every page
  • be signed by at least 12 people, including their name, address and signature
  • be in writing (not in pencil)
  • not be attached to any piece of paper other than another page of the petition

Petition Template(DOCX, 33KB) 

How do I lodge a petition?

You can submit the petition a number of ways:

Mail to:
Melton City Council
232 High Street
Melton VIC 3337

Hand Delivered:
Melton Civic Centre
232 High Street
Melton VIC 3337 

What happens to the petition once submitted?

Once a petition is submitted an acknowledgment will be sent to the organiser of the petition.

The petition will be reviewed to ensure compliance with Rule 64 of Council's Governance Rules. If the petition is accepted it will be included in the Council meeting Agenda of the first scheduled Council meeting following its receipt. Any petitions received after the Agenda has been compiled will be presented to the next scheduled Council meeting. 

Electronic Petitions

Electronic or online petitions are accepted by Melton City Council if they meet the requirements of Council's Governance Rules, including containing the name and email address of each petitioner, which will qualify as their signature and address.

Please note Council does not accept petitions organised through services or platforms that do not meet the requirements Council's Governance Rules.

The petition must be submitted directly to the Council and can be emailed to governance@melton.vic.gov.au. 

How long does the process take?

Petitions will be included in the Council meeting Agenda of the first scheduled Council meeting after they are received and verified. If submitted after the Agenda has been compiled, the petition will be presented at the next meeting.

The timeline for action depends on the matters raised and Council's response. 

What if the petition is about an operational matter?

If a petition relates to an operational matter (e.g., administrative or service-related issues), Council must refer it to the Chief Executive Officer for consideration. The CEO may take action or make recommendations to Council based on the petition. 

What happens if the petition does not meet the Governance Rules?

If the petition does not meet the requirements outlined in Rule 64 of Council's Governance Rules, it may not be accepted for consideration by Council. The petition organiser will be contacted and advised as to what is required in order for the petition to comply with Council's Governance Rules.

What happens to my information?

Any personal information provided is managed in accordance with the Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 and Council’s Privacy Policy.

We collect personal information for the purpose of processing your petition including but not limited to: 

  • Reviewing the petition for suitability according to Council's Governance Rules and guidelines
  • Contacting you about the petition including the outcome of the review
  • Providing you updates in relation to your petition and seeking further information 

Council will only use the personal information you provide, for purposes directly related to processing your petition.

The information you provide may be disclosed to Councillors and Council officers, or as otherwise authorised or required by law.   

For more information on how Council collects, uses and discloses your personal information, please refer to Council’s Privacy Policy.

 

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