People's Polling Petition

People in Exeter consistently feel unheard on major issues affecting our lives.

Whether about housing, climate, public space, pollution, water, cost of living, development decisions, Exeter City Council says it encourages community participation, but the current system only gives residents very limited influence.

And since our ability to vote in the upcoming May 2026 elections has been removed, citizens of Exeter are further ignored.

Community & citizens’ assemblies are a proven democratic tool that give ordinary people real power to shape decisions. They have been used across the UK and internationally, including right here in Devon through the Devon Climate Assembly, which the council has already engaged with.

This is a moment for Exeter to upgrade local democracy by formally adopting assemblies into its decision-making processes. 

Please sign and support this petition. You will need a free account on the City Council website. Once it reaches 2000 signatures, the council will hold a full debate.

PETITION TEXT: 

We, the undersigned Exeter residents, call on Exeter City Council to commit to commissioning independently facilitated citizens’ and/or community assemblies within the next year, on major strategic issues affecting the city (such as housing, transport (buses, cycles lanes) or cost-of-living, climate impacts), and to formally incorporate assemblies into its public participation arrangements including publishing a clear council response to each assembly’s recommendations.

For more information see our statement.