During a meeting in March, the council increased the requirement from 3,000 signatures to 9,000 – around one per cent of the population – a number described as ‘incredulous’ by Trevor Bence (Ref, Nyetimber). Since then, the council has changed hands and Mr Mercer is now leader. Mr Mercer said the issue needed to be put to the governance committee for consideration before any recommendations were brought back to the full council. The vast majority attracted nowhere near the required number of signatures, even before it was increased to 9,000. A petition to stop pension fund investments in arms against Palestine attracted more than 3,000 signatures, and a petition calling for a 20mph speed limit in Storrington, Sullington, Cootham and Cowfold attracted around 4,200.