The Local Authorities (Referendums) (Petitions and Directions) (England) Regulations 2000

Publicity for invalid petitions

14.—(1) Where the proper officer is satisfied that a petition is not a valid petition, he shall, within the notice period, notify the Secretary of State and the petition organiser (if any) of his conclusion and of the reasons for that conclusion.

(2) In a case to which paragraph (1) applies, the authority shall publish in at least one newspaper circulating in their area a notice which contains a statement—

(a) that a petition has been received which has been determined to be an invalid petition;

(b) of the reasons for that determination;

(c) of the constitutional change sought or, as the case may be, treated as sought, by the petition;

(d) of the petition date;

(e) that the petition is available at the authority’s principal office for inspection by members of the public at all reasonable times and free of charge; and

(f) of the address of the authority’s principal office.

(3) Where a petition is invalid only because it does not comply with regulation 9(1)(a), the notification under paragraph (1) and the statement to be published by the authority under paragraph (2) shall also include a statement that the invalid petition may be amalgamated with any subsequent petitions which are submitted to the authority.