Petition Response Times - 20 Working Days London

Public Safety England 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 02, 2026 Flag of England

In London, England, petition procedures and target reply times are set by each local authority or the Greater London Authority. This guide explains how response times are commonly calculated, who enforces petition schemes, and practical steps to submit, follow up and appeal. Because petition rules are local, check your council or the Mayor of London pages for the authoritative scheme that applies to your petition.

How response times work

Councils and the Greater London Authority usually publish a petitions scheme or guidance that explains acknowledgement and full-response targets, how signatures are verified, and what constitutes a formal petition for council or mayoral consideration. Response targets vary by authority; some authorities publish a 20 working day target while others use different timeframes. For an authoritative description of the Greater London Authority petition process see the Mayor and Assembly petitions information page[1]. For a typical borough-level scheme example see Camden Council's petitions page page[2].

Always check the specific petitions scheme for the council that will receive your petition.

Penalties & Enforcement

Petitions themselves are a civic process and not usually the subject of fixed monetary penalties in council petitions schemes. Official petitions guidance pages do not typically set fines for submitting petitions, and they focus on process, verification and publication rather than enforcement fines; specific penalties for misuse are generally not specified on the cited pages find your local council[3].

  • Enforcer: the relevant local authority or the Greater London Authority (Mayor and Assembly) administers the petitions scheme and any follow-up actions.
  • Response target: varies by authority; where a 20 working day target is used it is set in the local petitions scheme or guidance; if not published on the authority page, it is not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation and sanctions: petitions normally lead to consideration, debate or report requests rather than fines; escalation options (council debate, referral to committee) are set out in schemes or not specified on the cited pages.
  • Inspection, complaint and review: complaints about how a petition was handled are dealt with by the local authority complaints procedure or by contacting the Mayor/Assembly in the case of GLA petitions.
If you believe a petition was mishandled, use the council complaints route promptly.

Applications & Forms

Many councils do not require a special form beyond the petition content and contact details; where a formal petition form exists it will be published on the local authority petitions page. If no form is published on the authority page, none is specified on the cited page.

  • Typical requirement: clear petition text, proposer contact details, and signatures as defined by the local scheme.
  • Deadlines: some petitions require presentation before specific committee meetings; check the local scheme for timing.

Practical action steps

  • Draft your petition clearly stating the request and desired outcome.
  • Collect signatures as required by the local scheme and keep records of supporters.
  • Submit the petition via the council or GLA online submission form or by the method published on the authority page.
  • Note the authority's stated acknowledgement and response target; if you do not get an acknowledgement within the stated time, use the complaints route.

FAQ

How long will my petition take to get a response?
Response times vary by authority; some London authorities use a 20 working day target while others use different schedules, so check the specific council or the Mayor and Assembly scheme for the stated target.
Who enforces the petitions rules?
The receiving authority administers the petitions scheme and any follow-up; for citywide petitions to the Mayor and Assembly the Greater London Authority handles administration and publication.
Can I appeal if my petition is rejected?
Appeal or review routes are typically the council complaints procedure or contacting the relevant committee or the GLA; specific appeal time limits are set in local procedures or not specified on the cited pages.

How-To

  1. Identify which authority the petition should be sent to (your borough council or the Greater London Authority).
  2. Check the authority's petitions page for signature thresholds, form requirements and the published response target.
  3. Collect required evidence and supporter details, then submit using the published method on the authority page.
  4. Track acknowledgement and the full response; if times lapse, use the authority complaints route or contact details on the petitions page.

Key Takeaways

  • Petition response targets are set by each authority; 20 working days is a common target but not universal.
  • Use the council or GLA petitions page for authoritative submission instructions and contacts.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Greater London Authority petitions information
  2. [2] Camden Council petitions
  3. [3] GOV.UK - Find your local council

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