Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Simon Danczuk, has urged the Council to take democracy into the digital age by giving local residents the opportunity to lodge ‘e-petitions’.

Legislation making it compulsory for all councils in England and Wales to offer e-petitions comes into force in April next year. But many councils are already offering this facility as part of a drive to get more people involved in decision making and help them understand how democracy works.

“People are always complaining to me about council decisions that affect them but they don’t know how they can get involved,” said Simon. “E-petitions are proving to be very successful with other local authorities and any tool that gives people an opportunity to be part of the decision making process should be taken advantage of. We should be allowing people to make the most of the digital age.”

He added that under the new Bill councils must also consider holding a debate for any petition which requests it.

“I think such a scheme could make the council more accountable,” he said. “It is clear to me that decisions such as the attempt to make Springfield Park a private golf driving range, proposals to build houses on the former Turner Brothers asbestos site and the regeneration of our town centre need to be held up to proper public scrutiny. The more people who have a say on these matters, the better it is for local democracy.”

Examples of where the scheme has already made an impact on local authorities include an e-petition that kept a youth service open in Kingston-upon-Thames and one which forced Lambeth to mend broken fences quickly.

Bristol City Council, North Lincolnshire Council and the Hansard Society are currently developing guidance and offering support to other local authorities that wish to implement e-petitions.