Scrutiny - get involved
You can help to improve Lambeth in the following ways.
Suggest a commission
Members involved in the scrutiny process are keen to investigate and review the issues that matter to the people of Lambeth. If you feel there is something our scrutiny team should look at as part of its work programme, let us know.
Attend a meeting
All scrutiny committee and commission meetings are open to the public. Please check our meetings calendar or specific committee or sub-committee web pages for more information about meeting dates and locations.
Contribute your views
If you have a particular interest or expertise in an issue that is being investigated by a scrutiny commission, you may submit written evidence or just share your views with the committee. If you would like to do this please contact the Scrutiny team or:
Ask a public question
Public notice questions provide an opportunity for local people to get involved in the democratic process through the submission of questions which will be considered either by officers or at a formal Committee meeting, including scrutiny sub-committees. Any person living, working or studying in the borough may submit a question about matters which are the responsibility of the council
If accepted you will receive a written answer to your question, and then you can attend the committee meeting to speak to the councillors directly about it. Your question may lead to an investigation or review of the issue you raise, and could be very important for other people in the borough affected by the same issue.
Co-option
The council's constitution allows for each scrutiny committee to appoint up to three people as non-voting co-optees. Co-optees may also be appointed to commissions. If you would like to be considered as a co-optee for a particular commission please contact the relevant Lead Scrutiny Officer via the Scrutiny team (Tel: 020 7926 2173 or email: scrutiny@lambeth.gov.uk).
Petitions
The council's petition scheme includes provisions whereby a petitioner can call for a senior officer to be held to account at a scrutiny meeting (providing the petition is supported by at least 1500 petitioners). Furthermore if a petitioner is not satisfied with the council's response to a petition he or she can request that a scrutiny committee review the council’s response. Find out how to present a petition.
Call-in
Any councillor can 'call in' a key decision that has been made by the Cabinet. In effect this means that the decision cannot be implemented until the decision has been reviewed by one of the scrutiny committees.
There is a time limit: a call-in procedure can only be put to use within a certain number of days from the decision being published.
Councillor Call for Action
The Councillor Call for Action (CCfA) provides a mechanism for a ward councillor to seek to resolve a local problem or an issue of local concern by referring the matter to the council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee. CCfA is intended as a measure of 'last resort', with issues being raised at committee only after all other avenues for resolution have been exhausted. In submitting a CCfA the ward councillor will be required to demonstrate that all reasonable efforts have been taken to resolve the matter. For further information see the guidance note below.
Further information
Please note the council has a separate complaints procedure, which deals with individual casework or complaints. Please see our comments and complaints pages to find out more.
You may also find the following documents useful:
If you have any queries, questions or comments please feel free to contact us:
Email: scrutiny@lambeth.gov.uk
Tel: 020 7926 2173
Fax: 020 7926 2361
Address: Scrutiny Team
Freepost
RSAZ-KRRX-UXHJ
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW