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Closed Require those standing in local elections live or work in the area they stand.

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I recently stood in the local elections on the 6th May.

I learnt that someone can stand in an area without living or working in the area by using the qualification to occupy land or other premises as owner/tenant.

In the case I saw it meant someone rented a council garage to qualify to stand.

Get rid of the qualification 1 (b) in section 79 of the Local Government Act 1972 that states “he has during the whole of the twelve months preceding that day occupied as owner or tenant any land or other premises in that area”.

Councillors should live or work in the area they wish to represent. This qualification enables them to not do so and is open to abuse. Councillors will be making decisions about an area they don’t even pay council tax too.

The other 3 qualifications more than suffice.

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    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 24 November 2021.