Who can request a call-in?

Councillors and specified committee chairs as set out in the council’s overview and scrutiny procedure rules; members of the public do not generally have automatic call-in rights unless the rules provide otherwise.

How long do I have to call in a decision?

The procedure rules set the required notification period; specific working-day limits are provided in the council constitution or overview rules.

What happens after a call-in is accepted?

The decision is held pending a scrutiny meeting; the committee can recommend reconsideration, confirm the decision or refer to full council or monitoring officer.

Call-in & Scrutiny Procedures - Birmingham Bylaws

Technology and Data England 4 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026

Birmingham, England has an established overview and scrutiny framework that lets councillors and, in limited cases, members of the public question executive decisions and request review. This guide explains how call-in works in Birmingham, which committee procedures apply, where responsibility sits within the council, and practical steps to refer a decision for scrutiny. It summarises enforcement, common outcomes, application routes and appeal options so residents and councillors can act promptly and in line with the council’s published procedure rules.

Overview of Call-in and Scrutiny

Call-in is the mechanism by which certain decisions taken by the executive or officers can be examined by the council’s overview and scrutiny committees. Eligibility, permitted grounds and time limits are governed by the council’s overview and scrutiny procedure rules and the council constitution ^[1]^[2].

A call-in pauses implementation of a decision while scrutiny considers it.

Who can call in a decision

Councillors: specified numbers or leaders of overview committees may trigger call-in under the procedure rules.
Chair of an overview committee: may require a decision be reviewed.
Senior officers: where urgency or legality concerns exist, officers may refer matters for review.

Process and timeframes

Notification: a call-in notice must be submitted to Democratic Services in writing as specified in the procedure rules ^[2].
Standstill period: the decision is usually held in abeyance pending scrutiny; exact working-day limits are set out in the council procedure rules and constitution ^[2].
Scrutiny hearing: the overview and scrutiny committee schedules a meeting to consider the call-in and may invite report authors and relevant officers.

Penalties & Enforcement

Overview and scrutiny procedures are primarily procedural and remedial rather than punitive. Enforcement measures and penalties for breaches of procedural rules are not usually expressed as criminal fines in the overview and scrutiny sections of the constitution; specific monetary penalties for misconduct or regulatory breaches are set out in other parts of the council’s bylaws or statutory schemes. Where the procedure rules or constitution address consequences, they focus on outcomes such as referral back, recommendation for reconsideration, or referral to full council or monitoring officers ^[2].

Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page.
Escalation: first, repeat or continuing offence escalation is not specified for call-in procedure rules on the cited page.
Non-monetary sanctions: recommendations, orders to reconsider decisions, referral to full council, monitoring officer investigation and potential disciplinary processes.
Enforcer: Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Monitoring Officer and Democratic Services administer the process; complaints and submissions go to Democratic Services (see Help and Support).
Appeals/review: where provided, appeals are by internal review or referral to full council or the monitoring officer; specific statutory time limits for judicial review apply but are not specified on the cited council procedure pages.
Defences/discretion: the procedure rules permit the chair or monitoring officer to refuse or expedite call-in on grounds such as urgency or where a reasonable excuse is demonstrated.

If you believe a decision breaches legality or process, contact Democratic Services immediately.

Applications & Forms

The council publishes guidance on submitting call-in notices and the associated forms via Democratic Services; where a specific form exists it is made available on the council website or by request to Democratic Services ^[2]. If no form is available, a written notice containing the grounds and relevant decision references is required as set out in the procedure rules.

Common violations and typical outcomes

Failure to consult or follow statutory process — outcome: referral back for reconsideration or officer report.
Non-compliance with published procedure — outcome: procedural remedies, monitoring officer involvement.
Urgent decisions bypassing call-in — outcome: urgency provisions invoked; potential review if misuse is alleged.

Most call-ins are resolved by further information or reconsideration rather than sanctions.

Action steps

Verify the decision reference and eligibility against the council procedure rules.
Submit a written call-in notice to Democratic Services within the time limits in the procedure rules.
Contact Democratic Services to confirm receipt and hearing date.
Attend the scrutiny committee meeting or provide written representations as permitted.

FAQ

Who can request a call-in?: Councillors and specified committee chairs as set out in the council’s overview and scrutiny procedure rules; members of the public do not generally have automatic call-in rights unless the rules provide otherwise.
How long do I have to call in a decision?: The procedure rules set the required notification period; specific working-day limits are provided in the council constitution or overview rules ^[2].
What happens after a call-in is accepted?: The decision is held pending a scrutiny meeting; the committee can recommend reconsideration, confirm the decision or refer to full council or monitoring officer.

How-To

Check the decision reference and read the council’s overview and scrutiny procedure rules to confirm eligibility ^[2].
Prepare a written call-in notice stating grounds and evidence, using any published form or writing to Democratic Services.
Submit the notice to Democratic Services within the timeframe required by the procedure rules and request confirmation of receipt.
Provide any supporting documents to the scrutiny committee and attend the hearing if invited.
Follow committee recommendations and, if dissatisfied, seek advice on internal review or legal remedies such as judicial review (time limits apply).

Key Takeaways

Call-in halts implementation so committee review can consider legality, consultation and process.
Democratic Services administers submissions and is the primary contact for call-in notices.