The Local Government Act 2000 gives electors in the borough the right to petition the council to hold a referendum on whether the council should change to a different form of governance.
Such a petition must be signed by at least five per cent of registered voters in the borough.
The law requires the council to publish annually the figure which represents five per cent of registered voters - a figure called the Verification Number.
The Local Authority (Referendums) (Petitions and Directions) (England) Regulations 2000
In accordance with Regulation 4(1) of the above regulations, the number that is equal to five per cent of the number of local government electors shown in the revised register of electors having effect on 15 February 2024 was:
4,137
This figure will have effect for the purposes of determining the validity of petitions presented from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.
The number equal to five per cent of the local government electors for 2025 will be published within 14 days of 15 February 2025.
If this number is less than 4,137, the number to be used for verification purposes in relation to any petition submitted for the period beginning on the date of publication of the lower number until 31 March 2025 shall also be the lower number.
Aftab Razzaq
Electoral Registration Officer
Rugby Borough Council
15 February 2024