Lewisham Council is set to broaden its acceptance of online petitions by including those submitted through Change.org, alongside its existing council website platform.

The decision was discussed at the Governance Committee meeting on 8 July 2025, where members considered amendments to the council's Petition Scheme. The proposed changes aim to modernise the petition process and acknowledge the popularity of third-party e-petition platforms. This move was prompted by a significant “divestment petition” received via Change.org.

Under the revised scheme, for an e-petition submitted via Change.org to be considered valid, petitioners must:

  • Use their real name
  • Include a valid postcode within the London Borough of Lewisham
  • Have a verified signature

The lead petitioner is responsible for ensuring these requirements are met. Any entry that does not comply will be deemed invalid and not counted under the Petition Scheme.

The report pack noted that the council had received the “significant petition” via Change.org that would trigger a debate at full council if it were considered valid. Jeremy Chambers, Director of Law & Corporate Governance (Monitoring Officer), is preparing a report for the council meeting on 16 July, recommending that the council allow a debate on the petition.

The move comes after the council recognised that its current Petition Scheme only referenced e-petitions submitted through the council's website. The amendment seeks to address this by formally acknowledging Change.org as an acceptable platform, provided certain verification criteria are met.

The Governance Committee was comprised of Councillor Susan Wise (Chair), Councillor James-J Walsh (Cabinet Member for Inclusive Regeneration and Planning, Vice Chair), Councillor Sophie Davis, Councillor Aisha Malik-Smith, Councillor Jacq Paschoud, Councillor James Rathbone, and Emma Campbell Smith. The agenda for the meeting also included discussion of the use of substitutes on council committees, as well as the minutes from a previous meeting, declarations of interest, and a verbal update on the future work programme.