Community right to challenge

The community right to challenge allows applicants (known as ‘relevant bodies’) to submit an expression of interest to provide, or assist in providing, a council service.

Acceptance of an expression will trigger an open procurement exercise.

Expressions of interest may be submitted by ‘relevant bodies’ and these are defined as:

• voluntary and community bodies
  
• charities
  
• a group of two or more employees of the authority
  
• parish councils
  

We welcome the opportunity to talk to organisations about service delivery and improvement to best meet the needs of service users. We recognise the valuable role that voluntary and community organisations have to play in the delivery of local services and are committed to working closely with you.

Expression of interest

All organisations that are interested in putting in an ‘expression of interest’ to run a service are asked to contact us to have informal discussions on service delivery and improvement.

If you wish to make a formal expression of interest then please complete the online form:

We will make a decision on your expression based upon the information that we ask for in the form and in accordance with the provisions of the Localism Act 2011. 

We will acknowledge receipt, and within 30 days we will let you know the date by which you will receive a decision on your application.

Our decision will be to either accept your expression, ask you to modify it, or reject it. If we accept your expression, then we will invite your organisation to compete in an open procurement exercise.