UPDATE! Lib Dems get e-petitions

2.50.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 25th Jun 2008

Liberal Democrat Group Leader Brian Watkins has welcomed the decision by the council to support a Lib Dem proposal to introduce e-petitions.

He said:

"The scheme, once it is up and running, will allow Norwich residents to start or sign petitions about local issues that matter to them.

"Councillors often forget that we are here to serve the community and we are answerable to local people. We need to ensure consultation is genuine and not just a public relations exercise. Too often people go to the trouble of organising petitions, only to see them left to gather dust in a council office somewhere. That must change.

"Although e-petitions are a good way to harness technology to increase participation, we still need to do more to consult with local people at all levels. This should involve more public meetings, posted consultation exercises, local road-shows and workshops, as well as traditional local canvassing methods. However, most of all we need to make sure that the people of Norwich know that when they speak, their council will listen, consider and act.

"As Liberal Democrat Group Leader I am pushing the council to do more to reach out to people who feel their voice is ignored and their concerns dismissed; e-petitions are one small but significant step in the right direction."