Council Call-In & Scrutiny of Executive Decisions Glasgow
Glasgow, Scotland uses a formal call-in and scrutiny process to review executive decisions made by council committees and officers. This guide explains who can request a call-in, the timelines and procedural steps, how scrutiny committees consider requests, and where to find official rules and contacts. It is aimed at councillors, community groups and members of the public who need practical steps to request review, lodge complaints or appeal executive actions within Glasgow City Council.
How the Call-In Process Works
The call-in lets councillors or authorised overview and scrutiny members require that a recently made executive decision be reviewed by a scrutiny body before it is implemented. Typical triggers include concerns about legality, lack of consultation, or significant policy impact. The council constitution sets out the detailed procedure, including eligibility, notice periods and committee referral routes.[1]
Who Can Call In and When
- Eligibility usually limited to members of overview and scrutiny committees or a certain number of councillors; check the constitution for exact thresholds.[1]
- Call-in must be lodged within the specified notice period after the decision is published; the constitution provides the exact days and calculation method.[1]
- Urgent decisions may be exempt from call-in where the decision-maker certifies urgency according to the council rules.[1]
Referral and Scrutiny
On a valid call-in the decision is referred to the relevant scrutiny committee for consideration. The committee can recommend that the decision be confirmed, amended or referred back. The committee's remit, membership and voting rules are set out in the council constitution and overview and scrutiny procedures.[1]
Penalties & Enforcement
The call-in and scrutiny process is procedural and does not itself create criminal penalties; it governs review of executive decisions. Monetary fines, continuity penalties or criminal sanctions are not specified on the cited constitutional pages for the call-in process and relate instead to the subject matter of the underlying decision (for example regulatory breaches under licensing or planning regimes). For penalties tied to specific regulatory breaches, consult the relevant enforcement regime and department.[1]
- Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page for the call-in procedure; see department rules for regulatory fines.[1]
- Escalation: first/repeat/continuing offence ranges are not specified for call-in procedure; enforcement steps depend on the substantive regulation.
- Non-monetary sanctions: scrutiny outcomes can include recommendations, referral back for reconsideration, or reporting to full council but do not themselves suspend legal rights; substantive sanctions depend on enforcing department.
- Enforcer and complaints: Governance Services / Democratic Services administer the call-in process and can accept queries or complaints via the council contact pages.[2]
- Appeal/review: appeal routes for an executive decision depend on the decision type; the constitution explains internal review timescales while statutory appeals (e.g., planning, licensing) follow their own statutory time limits.
- Defences/discretion: the council constitution allows certification of urgency or other exemptions; cite "reasonable excuse" or similar defenses only where provided by the underlying statute or rules.
Applications & Forms
The council constitution and committee procedure rules describe submission and notice requirements for a call-in; no standard public "call-in form" is published on the cited constitution page. Members or officers should contact Democratic Services for the correct submission method and any local form or template.[1][2]
Practical Steps to Request a Call-In
- Identify the decision and obtain the formal decision notice or minute from the committee record.
- Check the constitution for the exact notice period and calculate the deadline for lodging a call-in.[1]
- Contact Democratic Services to confirm eligibility, request any local forms and submit the call-in in writing.[2]
- Attend the scrutiny meeting if required and provide any supporting evidence or legal advice.
FAQ
- Who can initiate a call-in?
- Typically overview and scrutiny members or a specified number of councillors as set out in the council constitution; contact Democratic Services for confirmation.[1][2]
- What happens after a call-in is accepted?
- The decision is referred to the relevant scrutiny committee which can confirm, amend or refer the matter back; the constitution describes the committee powers.[1]
- Is there a fee to submit a call-in?
- No fee is stated for the call-in procedure on the cited constitutional pages; this is a procedural council matter rather than a paid application.
How-To
- Identify the executive decision and secure the official decision notice or committee minute.
- Check the constitution for eligibility criteria and the exact call-in deadline.[1]
- Contact Democratic Services to confirm process, obtain any local form and submit the call-in in writing.[2]
- Provide supporting material to the scrutiny committee and attend the meeting if invited.
- Follow any committee recommendations and, where relevant, pursue statutory appeals for the underlying decision through the appropriate enforcement department.
Key Takeaways
- Act quickly: call-in deadlines are short and strictly applied.
- Consult the council constitution and Democratic Services for exact procedural requirements.[1][2]
Help and Support / Resources
- Overview and Scrutiny - Glasgow City Council
- Committee papers and decisions - Glasgow City Council
- Planning & Building Standards - Glasgow City Council