Under the Local Government Act 2000, we have to let you know about your right to ask for a referendum on changing our governance arrangements, if you'd like to move to a mayor and cabinet arrangement to manage the Council. We also have to tell you the numbers needed for a valid petition.

Regulations under the Act provide for a referendum to be held where a minumum of 5% of local government electors petition the Council for a referendum on whether the Council should operate executive arrangements which involve an elected Mayor.

We are required to publish the number of electors that is equal to 5% of the number registered to vote at a local government election in as shown on the Electoral Register on 15 February 2012. The 5% figure for Wokingham Borough this year is 6060. This figure will have effect for the purposes of determining the validity of Petitions presented from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013.

The number equal to 5% of the local government electors for 2013 will be published within 14 days of 15 February 2013. 

In any year there is a short period of time when there is one of 2 figures that can be used. This is between publication of the number and 31 March that same year. During that time the alternative number that can be used is the one that was published the previous year. Councils must use the lower of these 2 numbers as the verification number for any petition submitted during that period.

Susanne Nelson-Wehrmeyer 
Electoral Registration Officer 
Wokingham Borough Council
Civic Offices 
Shute End 
Wokingham 
Berkshire
RG40 1WH

More details

For further information contact us.