Decision details

To review the Council’s use of powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

Matter for Decision

A Code of Practice introduced in April 2010 recommends that councillors should review their authority’s use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and set its general surveillance policy at least once a year. The Leader and Executive Councillor for Strategy and Transformation and Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee last considered these matters on the 18 January 2016.

The report set out the Council’s use of RIPA and the present surveillance policy.

Decision of the Leader and Executive Councillor for Strategy and Transformation

     i.        Noted the review the Council’s use of RIPA set out in paragraph 5.1 of the officer’s report.

    ii.        Noted and endorse the steps described in paragraph 7.1 and in Appendix 1 of the officer’s report, to ensure that surveillance is only authorised in accordance with RIPA.

   iii.        Approved the amended general surveillance policy in Appendix 1 of the Officer’s report.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Legal Practice.

The Head of Legal Practice confirmed in response to a question that in relation to surveillance for a third party (para 5.3 of the report) that there were no occasions when this took place in 2016 and that it would be stated in future annual reporting.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.