Issue - meetings

Non-Key Decision

Councillor Vicki Heslop – Executive Lead Member for Governance

Cabinet received an update on the use of the Council’s Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) Policy during the past 3 years.

As the report presented was for information purposes only, there were no alternative options for Members to consider.

RESOLVED

that the following be noted and adopted accordingly:

a)   

a)that the Council has not authorised any Directed Surveillance in the past 3 years pursuant to the RIPA powers;

b)    the minor amendments to the Policy ;

c)    that the necessary RIPA training was undertaken in Autumn 2022 following the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) inspection in March 2022;

d)    progress made in respect of the action plan put in place following the IPCO inspection in March 2022.

Reasons:

1.    An update report was last presented to Cabinet in December 2022 and the current Code of Practice and Council Policy requires that Members are updated on RIPA authorisations on an annual basis.

2.    The Policy should also be reviewed regularly to ensure it remains up to date and fit for purpose. The Policy was reviewed and amended in December 2022 following the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) inspection in March 2022, to reflect legislative changes and recommendations following the inspection since the Policy was last adopted.