[Marie Manneville]

Thanks for flagging this. Has this letter been published? can't see it on a quick look at the CLG website. Would appreciate seeing it! (our scrutiny manager has been involved in planning our response to the petitions duty as a council)

[Steve Sienkiewicz]

So the legislation remains in force but the statutory guidance is withdrawn. If this had been done a few months ago it might have been helpful, but so late in the day it seems pretty much a waste of time. Most Council's will have already implemented their scheme based around the guidance and model scheme. What are we supposed to do now - unravel all of that and start again from scratch? I don't think so.

[Ed Hammond]

Clearest indication yet that the specific petitions requirements will be disappearing with the Localism Bill.

I imagine that CCfA may well go as well.

The Government will probably say that there is a presumption that councils will be responsive to the concerns and worries of local people without the need for legislative prescription.

But it's annoying that the process for the guidance has been continuing until surprisingly recently.