Wandsworth Council is set to restore the practice of receiving petitions at the beginning of council meetings, a move that had been shifted to the end of proceedings. The decision was made during a General Purposes Committee meeting on Monday, July 20, 2026, as part of a wider review of the council's constitutional arrangements.
The committee agreed to amend Standing Orders to bring the handling of petitions back to the start of meetings. This change aims to ensure that matters raised by residents through petitions are given prominence at the outset of council discussions. The specific change agreed was to restore the position of handing in petitions from the end of the meeting to the start.
The constitutional review was prompted by the May 2026 local elections, which resulted in a council where no political group secured overall control. Following this, the largest political group formed an administration after entering into a confidence and supply agreement with the independent member. This lack of overall political control is cited as the reason for the review, which seeks to make council procedures more open, transparent, and effective, ensuring the governance framework remains proportionate and strengthening scrutiny and opportunities for all members.
Beyond the timing of petition reception, the review is examining several other arrangements. These include the reintroduction of oral questions to Cabinet members, which will add 20 minutes to the agenda of full council meetings for more direct questioning. Amendments have also been made to debate procedures, allowing the opposition speaker to speak on items for decision. Furthermore, the 150-word limit for group motions has been removed, along with a related provision limiting amended motions to 200 words.
The current practice regarding prayers will be maintained. A proposal to explore using task and finish groups for future constitutional review phases was discussed but did not proceed. The membership of Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSCs) has been increased to seven members.
Standing Order 44, concerning rail travel reimbursement, is also being addressed as part of a wider review of Standing Orders. A proposal to change reimbursement from first-class to standard class is under consideration. A temporary provision has been introduced, allowing the Chief Executive to make committee appointments on nomination from group leaders, with an end date of 21 October 2026. These changes are intended to enhance democratic participation, strengthen scrutiny, and improve transparency in decision-making, reflecting the council's current political composition and aiming for a more balanced and effective governance framework.
The revised Standing Orders were adopted during the meeting on Monday, July 20, 2026. While the specific timeline for residents to see petitions being received at the start of meetings is not explicitly stated, the change was agreed upon during this meeting.
Further details on the agenda and reports for the General Purposes Committee meeting can be found in the Agenda General Purposes Committee 20 July 2026 and the Public reports pack 20 July 2026.