Community Right to Challenge

What is the Community Right to Challenge?

The Community Right to Challenge was introduced in the Localism Act 2011. Under the Community Right to Challenge relevant bodies can express an interest in running a local authority service.

Relevant bodies which can express an interest in running a local authority service are:

  • A voluntary or community body
  • A body of persons or a trust which is established for charitable purposes only
  • A parish council
  • 2 or more employees of the relevant authority

Local authorities have a duty to consider expressions of interest submitted by relevant bodies.

If an expression of interest is accepted by a local authority, a procurement exercise will be triggered. Procurement exercises will be carried out in line with existing procurement regulations and policies.

Acceptance of an expression of interest is not a guarantee of award of contract to the relevant body. Procurement exercises are competitive and may result in another organisation being awarded a contract.

The required content of an expression of interest, the things that local authorities have to take into consideration, and the grounds on which an expression of interest can be rejected or modified are set down in Government regulations.


Cumbria County Council will only consider expressions of interest received from relevant bodies during a specific period known as a 'window'. The current window opened on 1 May 2022 and closes on 31 July 2022.

Relevant bodies are recommended to submit expressions of interest on the Expressions of Interest Form (DOC 52KB)

Cumbria County Council will notify relevant bodies within 30 days of receipt of an expression of interest of the period in which it expects to provide notification of the decision. 

If you would like to discuss your interest in taking over the running of a Cumbria County Council service before completing a formal expression of interest or have any queries about completing an expression of interest:


Expressions of interest are to be submitted to:

clare.killeen@cumbria.gov.uk

or

Clare Killeen
Corporate, Customer and Community Services
Cumbria County Council
Cumbria House
107 to 117 Botchergate
Carlisle
Cumbria
CA1 1RZ