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 recommended 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 23rd January 2017.

The City Council had not used surveillance or other investigatory powers regulated by RIPA since February 2010. This report set out the Council’s use of RIPA and the present surveillance policy.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Strategy and Transformation:

     i.        Reviewed the Council’s use of RIPA set out in paragraph 3.5 of this report.

    ii.        Noted and endorsed the steps described in paragraph 3.7 and in Appendix 1 to ensure that surveillance was only authorised in accordance with RIPA.

   iii.        Approved the general surveillance policy in Appendix 1 of the 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 made no comments in response to the report from the Head of Legal.

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.