Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Corporate Services presented the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) Policy report. He said that RIPA allowed local authorities to conduct covert surveillance to prevent and detect certain crimes and the council were required to have the policy in place on the use of these powers.

Councillor Dumont said that the council’s policy had been inspected by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) who were complimentary of the policy but did recommend some updates. The updates had been made to the policy and the Executive were asked to agree the new updated policy.

Councillor Goldspink said that she was glad that the council were so carefully regulated on surveillance as she was worried about individual rights to privacy. She thanked Officers for setting out such a clear report.

Councillor Daar asked the Executive Member for Corporate Services if the policy had been through the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for scrutiny and comments from other Members.

Councillor Dumont confirmed this was correct.

Councillor Dumont proposed, and Councillor Goldspink seconded a motion supporting the recommendations in the report. On being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – That (A) the Executive considers the content of the report and provides any observations to the Head of Legal andDemocratic Services; and

(B) The revised Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) Policy at Appendix B be adopted.

A report was submitted on behalf of the Executive Member for Corporate Services which providedan update following the Council’s recent IPCO inspection and which sought support to implement recommended changes to the RIPA policy. It was noted that the council was last inspected in 2019.

The changes were detailed in the Appendices to the report. 

Councillor Goldspink proposed and Councillor Snowdon seconded, a motion that the content of the report be received and the Regulation and Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) Policy be recommended to the Executive for adoption.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that the content of the report be received and the Regulation and Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) Policy be recommended to the Executive for adoption.