Who can submit a call-in?

The Council's overview and scrutiny rules set eligibility; consult Democratic Services for confirmation and the current criteria.

How long do I have to call in a decision?

Time limits are set in the Council procedure documents or guidance; if not clearly published contact Democratic Services for the current deadline.

What happens after a decision is called in?

The relevant overview and scrutiny committee considers the call-in and may recommend reconsideration, referral to Council, or no further action.

Cardiff Call-In & Scrutiny of Executive Decisions

Elections and Campaign Finance Wales 3 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026

In Cardiff, Wales the call-in and scrutiny processes let councillors and the public check executive decisions made by the Council and its Cabinet. This guide summarises the local procedures, who handles call-ins, timeframes as stated on official pages, and practical steps to request review or raise concerns with Democratic Services ^[1].

What is call-in and who can use it

Call-in is a formal request for reconsideration of an executive decision before it is implemented. Eligibility rules and who may call in a decision are set out in the Council's overview and scrutiny procedures; specific eligibility criteria are published by the Council ^[1].

Overview and Scrutiny committees review called-in decisions.
Democratic Services administers the process and logs call-in notices.
Time limits for lodging a call-in are stated in the Council procedure documents or may be confirmed by Democratic Services ^[2].

Call-in is a scrutiny mechanism to delay implementation while review occurs.

How call-in works

After a decision is published, eligible members may lodge a call-in notice. The matter is considered by the relevant overview and scrutiny committee which can recommend reconsideration, referral back to the decision-maker, or referral to full Council if the procedure allows. The Council publishes the detailed steps in its scrutiny rules and guidance ^[1].

Action steps

Contact Democratic Services to request the call-in form or notice requirements.
Confirm the published deadline for call-in with Democratic Services before submitting.
Provide reasons and supporting evidence when lodging a call-in to aid committee review.

Always check the published decision notice and the Council timetable before acting.

Penalties & Enforcement

Call-in and scrutiny are procedural controls; they do not carry criminal fines for members or the public on the Council's scrutiny pages. Specific monetary penalties, escalation fines, or statutory sanctions for failing to comply with call-in procedures are not specified on the cited Council pages ^[1].

Enforcer: Overview and Scrutiny committees and Democratic Services administer and enforce the procedure.
Inspection and complaint pathway: contact Democratic Services for complaints about process or compliance ^[2].
Appeals/review: the published procedure describes committee review and referral routes; explicit statutory appeal periods or court routes are not specified on the cited pages.
Defences/discretion: committees may exercise discretion based on evidence and urgency; formal exemptions for urgent decisions are described in the Council procedure documents or are not specified on the cited pages.

If a decision is marked urgent consult Democratic Services immediately about call-in eligibility.

Applications & Forms

The Council provides guidance and any required notice form through Democratic Services; a specific published form number is not specified on the cited pages, so contact Democratic Services to obtain the form and submission details ^[2].

Common issues and typical outcomes

Late call-in submissions: typically rejected; check deadlines with Democratic Services.
Insufficient grounds: committee may endorse the original decision or request more information.
Urgent decisions: may be exempt from call-in where urgency is properly documented.

FAQ

Who can submit a call-in?: The Council's overview and scrutiny rules set eligibility; consult Democratic Services for confirmation and the current criteria.
How long do I have to call in a decision?: Time limits are set in the Council procedure documents or guidance; if not clearly published contact Democratic Services for the current deadline.
What happens after a decision is called in?: The relevant overview and scrutiny committee considers the call-in and may recommend reconsideration, referral to Council, or no further action.

How-To

Check the published decision notice for call-in eligibility and the name of the decision-maker.
Contact Democratic Services to request the call-in notice or confirmation of deadlines ^[2].
Complete the notice with clear reasons and attach evidence supporting the request.
Submit the notice before the stated deadline by the method Democratic Services specifies.
Attend the scrutiny committee meeting if you provided evidence or were asked to speak.
Follow the committee recommendation and, where applicable, request further review or seek legal advice if statutory rights are engaged.

Key Takeaways

Call-in is a procedural review, not a penalty regime.
Timely contact with Democratic Services is essential to meet any deadlines.
Overview and Scrutiny committees are the primary bodies that examine called-in decisions.