Issue - meetings

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services submitted a report that updated Members on the Council’s current use of RIPA and also to report on the annual policy review. He reminded Members that a similar paper was reported to the Committee in 2020, as there had been a complete rewrite of the policy as it had been out of date.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services said that the report referred to what had been said by the IPCO on 24 November 2019. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services said that the critical recommendation that had been made was about the need for the RIPA policy to be updated. Members were referred to paragraph 2.3 of the report and the confirmation that had been given to the chief surveillance inspector that all of the identified steps that needed to be taken had been implemented and the new policy was now in place.

Members were advised that nothing further needed to be changed in the policy this year in light of the comprehensive rewrite that had been completed in 2020. The Head of Legal and Democratic Services said that notwithstanding the policy being fit for purpose, it was good practice to report back to Members and a report would be brought before Members every year.

Councillor Frecknall proposed and Councillor Ward-Booth seconded, a motion that the report be received and any observations from Members be forwarded to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services. After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that (A) the report be received; and

(B)   any observations from Members be forwarded to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.