Who can call in an executive decision?

Eligibility is set by the council constitution and committee rules; check with Overview and Scrutiny or Democratic Services for who qualifies.

Does calling in stop a decision immediately?

Call-in typically pauses implementation pending review where the procedure applies, subject to the constitution; consult the published rules for specifics.

Is there a fee to call in a decision?

No fee is specified on the cited council pages for lodging a call-in.

Leeds Call-In & Scrutiny Procedure

Public Health and Welfare England 3 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026

This guide explains the call-in and scrutiny procedure for executive decisions in Leeds, England, so residents, councillors and officers can challenge or review decisions made by the executive. It summarises who may call in a decision, the roles of overview and scrutiny bodies, how to trigger review, and where to find the council rules and contacts. Use the steps below to prepare a call-in request and follow the council’s published procedure to ensure the review is valid and timely. For the formal rules consult the council constitution and overview and scrutiny pages linked below for the official procedure and governance text.Council constitution^[1]

Act promptly: call-in windows are short under council procedure rules.

Overview of the Call-In Process

Call-in is a mechanism within the council’s governance to ask overview and scrutiny committees to review an executive decision before it is implemented. Typically the mechanism is governed by the council constitution and the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, which set who may call in a decision and the internal referral route. The council's overview and scrutiny structures and committee remits provide the forum for review and recommendations to the executive.Overview and Scrutiny^[2]

Penalties & Enforcement

Call-in and scrutiny are procedural governance tools rather than offences attracting fines; accordingly, monetary penalties are not part of the call-in regime. Specific financial penalties for failing to comply with call-in procedure are not specified on the cited pages.^[1]

Time limits for lodging a call-in: not specified on the cited page.
Decision makers and executive roles: set out in the council constitution and executive decision records.
Non-monetary outcomes: review, recommendation back to the executive, referral to full council or requirement to delay implementation.
Enforcer/overseeing body: Overview and Scrutiny committees and the Monitoring Officer as set out in governance documents.^[1]

Call-in delays implementation but does not itself overturn a decision; committees recommend next steps.

Applications & Forms

The council does not publish a named standard national form for call-in on the cited pages; contact Democratic Services for the correct submission route and any local form or email template.^[1]

Form available: not specified on the cited page.
Submission: contact Democratic Services for guidance and to lodge a call-in request.

Common Violations and Practical Consequences

Failure to follow the published call-in procedure: may render a call-in invalid; remedy determined by Monitoring Officer.
Late submission beyond the procedural deadline: typically rejected as out of time, see council constitution for exact rules.
Not notifying required parties: may delay consideration or be returned for proper notice.

If a formal rule or fine is needed the constitution and committee minutes record the council’s position.

Action Steps

Check the council constitution and Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules to confirm eligibility and time limits for call-in.Read the constitution^[1]
Contact Democratic Services or the Overview and Scrutiny team to confirm the procedure and submit the call-in.
Prepare a short written request stating the decision to be called in, reasons, and desired outcome; attach supporting documents.
Attend the scrutiny meeting if invited and present the case or evidence supporting the call-in.

FAQ

Who can call in an executive decision?: Eligibility is set by the council constitution and committee rules; check with Overview and Scrutiny or Democratic Services for who qualifies.
Does calling in stop a decision immediately?: Call-in typically pauses implementation pending review where the procedure applies, subject to the constitution; consult the published rules for specifics.
Is there a fee to call in a decision?: No fee is specified on the cited council pages for lodging a call-in.

How-To

Identify the executive decision you wish to challenge and note the decision date and reference.
Check the council constitution or contact Democratic Services to confirm you meet call-in eligibility and any time limit.
Draft a written call-in request stating reasons and attaching evidence; follow any submission format advised by Democratic Services.
Submit the request to Democratic Services and request confirmation of receipt and meeting dates for overview and scrutiny consideration.
Attend the scrutiny meeting if invited and follow any published rules for public participation.

Key Takeaways

Call-in is a governance review tool, not a sanctioning regime.
Contact Democratic Services early to confirm process and any required form.
Act quickly: procedural time limits commonly apply and are set out in governance rules.