Issue - meetings

To Consider a report of the Head of Internal Audit and Compliance.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Audit and Compliance relating to operational procedures for the Council to undertake covert surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) 2000.

In March 2009, Cabinet had approved policies and procedures for surveillance under RIPA 2000

Under the act, the Council was required to keep a detailed record of all authorisations, renewals, cancellations and rejections for inspection by staff of the office, which carried out inspections to oversee surveillance operations carried out by public authorities.

The Council’s existing Policy and Procedures for RIPA included a provision for an annual report to Scrutiny Committee. It was proposed in future, however, that, the current policy should be reconsidered and the Annual Report to Members be submitted to the Governance and Constitution Committee in future instead of this Committee, in compliance with its role dealing with Audit and compliance issues. This Committee could continue to have information about RIPA and/or review its operation in accordance with the Scrutiny work programmes.

RESOLVED –

(a)        That the policy and procedures in place within the Council to ensure compliance with RIPA be noted

(b)        That the steps being taken to ensure that the Council operates best practice with regard to RIPA be noted

(c)        That the Committee supports the proposal to routinely submit future RIPA monitoring reports to Governance and Constitution Committee and /or Cabinet