How the Right to Challenge works

We expect to launch the Right to Challenge in Kent from June 2012.

The way it works is still being decided by government but below is a taster of how it could work.

Step 1

The council will release details of the services that will be subject to challenge and the time scales for when we will accept an expression of interest.

Step 2

Groups who have the Right to Challenge then submit their expression of interest.

Step 3

The relevant council will decide whether to accept an expression of interest, accept it with some modifications or reject it.

Step 4

If the council accepts (even with some modification) an expression of interest for a service, it will then comply with legal requirements by carrying out a procurement exercise to select the most appropriate service provider. The Right to Challenge offers an additional time period to prepare for when open procurement starts.

If the council rejects expressions of interest to run a particular service, they will publish their reason for rejection and take no further action.

More detail on how you can use your Right to Challenge in Kent will be available here soon. In the meantime, find out more about the community Right to Challenge in the government's plain English guide to the Localism Bill,