Lifted slates without much notice (4)
I believe the answer is:
snap
'without much notice' is the definition.
(as in a snap decision)
'lifted slates' is the wordplay.
'lifted' is a reversal indicator (going up in down clue).
'slates' becomes 'pans' (both can mean criticises).
'pans' written backwards gives 'SNAP'.
(Other definitions for snap that I've seen before include "Take a photo" , "Crack - shot" , "Break with a crack" , "Photograph - card game" , "Quick photograph - impression" .)