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How Newham is Governed

The Call-in Process

All reports of the Mayor or a key decision of an officer are published 5 clear working days before the decision is taken. The reports include recommendations which set out the intended decision.
If a non executive Councillor or co-opted member wishes to reserve the right to call in a decision, they must let the Chief Executive know from the time the report was published and the end of the meeting at which the decision was taken.

The decision is published between 2-5 working days of being made. If a member has reserved the right to call-in or the decision is substantially different than those set out in the report, or new information is given that was not in the original report no action can be taken on the decision until the decision has been published for 5 working days.

During that time, the following may ask an overview and scrutiny committee to call in the decision:

  • Any scrutiny chair plus any 5 scrutiny members;
  • Three members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee;
  • Twenty percent of Councillors (12 Councillors)


The Overview and Scrutiny Committee may request the Chief Executive to call in the decision within the 5 days.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee will meet within 5 working days of the decision to call in. If they are concerned about the decision, they will refer it back to the decision-maker who will reconsider the decision and may amend it or not.

Outside Budget/Policy Framework

Members may call in a decision if they believe an executive decision has been made that is inconsistent with the policy and budget framework. We may either:

  • Decide the decision was within the budget/policy framework;
  • Amend the financial regime or policy to include the executive decision;
  • Accept the decision is contrary to the budget/policy framework and require the executive to reconsider the matter.

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