Call-in & Scrutiny of Employment Decisions - Glasgow

Labor and Employment Scotland 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 11, 2026 Flag of Scotland

This guide explains the call-in and scrutiny procedures for employment and senior-officer decisions in Glasgow, Scotland, showing how councillors, officers and staff can request review, where to report concerns and what practical steps to take to protect rights and ensure lawful process.

Scope and who it covers

The call-in procedure applies to executive and committee employment decisions where Glasgow City Council standing orders or scheme of delegation allow councillor scrutiny of decisions affecting appointments, dismissals or senior officer terms. It applies to elected members, the Monitoring Officer and relevant committees responsible for governance and human resources.

If you are an employee affected by a decision, raise the matter promptly with HR and governance.

How call-in works

Typical steps involve a notice by a specified number of councillors or a committee member to the council governance team requesting that a recently taken employment decision be referred for scrutiny rather than implemented immediately. The governance team then checks whether the decision is eligible for call-in under the council's standing orders and notifies relevant parties of any meeting to consider the call-in. The council constitution and standing orders set the eligibility criteria, the number of councillors required to call in a decision, and timelines for lodging notices [1].

Penalties & Enforcement

Call-in and scrutiny are procedural remedies rather than offences with statutory fines; the standing orders and scheme of delegation focus on review, suspension of implementation and referral to committee. Where the standing orders or related employment policies mention sanctions for breach, specific monetary fines are not listed on the cited document.

  • Monetary fines: not specified on the cited page [1].
  • Escalation (first/repeat/continuing offences): not specified on the cited page [1].
  • Non-monetary sanctions: review orders, suspension of decision implementation, referral to committee, instruction to re-run a process, or internal disciplinary steps may apply.
  • Enforcer/Reviewer: Governance Services, the Monitoring Officer and relevant council committees or appeals panels.
  • Inspection and complaint pathways: complaints and governance inquiries are handled by Governance Services and the Monitoring Officer; personnel appeals go to the council appeals or employment tribunal routes as applicable.
  • Appeal/review time limits: specific time limits for lodging call-in notices or appeals are set in the standing orders or employment policies; if a time limit is not stated on the relevant page, it is not specified on the cited page [1].
Call-in usually pauses implementation while scrutiny proceeds.

Applications & Forms

No standalone public form for call-in is published on the cited standing orders; notices are typically submitted in writing to Governance Services following the form and content required by the constitution and standing orders [1]. For employment appeals, HR will publish the internal appeal form or procedure where applicable; if a specific form is not on the cited page, it is not specified on the cited page [1].

Practical action steps

  • Check the council constitution and standing orders for the call-in eligibility period and the required number of councillors to trigger a call-in.
  • Prepare a written notice with the decision reference, reasons for call-in and supporting evidence; submit to Governance Services immediately.
  • Contact Governance Services or HR for confirmation of receipt and next steps; request the meeting date and papers.
  • If internal remedies are exhausted, consider formal appeals under employment procedures or external remedies such as employment tribunals where a legal right is at issue.
Timely submission is essential; delays can forfeit call-in rights.

FAQ

Who can call in an employment decision?
Usually a specified number of councillors or a committee member under the standing orders can call in a decision; employees must use HR and appeals processes.
Does call-in stop a decision?
Call-in generally pauses implementation pending scrutiny if allowed by the standing orders; exact effect depends on the constitution.
Where do I submit a call-in or complaint?
Submit notices and governance complaints to Governance Services or the Monitoring Officer as set out in the council constitution and standing orders.

How-To

  1. Identify the decision reference and check eligibility under the council constitution and standing orders.
  2. Secure the required number of councillor signatures if applicable and prepare a written call-in notice with grounds and evidence.
  3. Submit the notice to Governance Services within the time limit stated in the standing orders and request confirmation of receipt.
  4. Attend the scrutiny or committee meeting, present reasons, and follow the committee's directions for review or referral.
  5. If dissatisfied with outcome, follow internal appeal routes via HR or pursue statutory employment remedies as advised by legal or HR advisers.

Key Takeaways

  • Call-in is a procedural check, not a penalty regime.
  • Follow standing orders precisely: timing and form matter.
  • Governance Services and HR are the primary contacts for notices and appeals.

Help and Support / Resources

    Categories

    General Governance and Administration Public Safety Public Health and Welfare Land Use and Zoning Housing and Building Standards Transportation Environmental Protection Parks and Public Spaces Business and Consumer Protection Taxation and Finance Labor and Employment Education Civil Rights and Equity Elections and Campaign Finance Events and Special Uses Signs and Advertising Utilities and Infrastructure Technology and Data