What is Call-in?
Overview and Scrutiny Committees have the power to call in and
scrutinise the Cabinet and key decisions before they are
implemented. The purpose of call-in is to enable an Overview and
Scrutiny Committee to consider whether the Cabinet should be asked
to review its decision. Call-in provides an opportunity to ensure
that the Council adheres to the principles of good
decision-making.
The Call in Process
After the Cabinet has announced its intention
to make a decision, members of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny
Committee have 5 working days to consider that decision.
If any Overview and Scrutiny Committee members
feel that the decision is for some reason questionable, they can
lodge a request to “call in” that decision.
A meeting of the appropriate Overview and
Scrutiny Committee is called, which takes place not less than
10 working days after the publication of the original
decision. Until the matter has been resolved, the decision is put
on hold.
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee will then
provide a report to the Cabinet explaining the reasons why they
asked for the decision to be called in and detail any new
recommendation for the Cabinet to consider. This report will
contain the views and concerns of Overview and Scrutiny Members,
members of the public and any other interested parties.
The full Cabinet will reconsider all decisions,
which have been called in and decide whether or not to change its
original decision.
A meeting of full council may be held in place
of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee if the decision appears to
be contrary to the policy framework or budget with the agreement of
the Chair of Council and the Chairman of the relevant Overview and
Scrutiny Committee.
