Issue - meetings

The report of the Head of Policy and Performance seeks to provide assurance that Cheshire East Council is complying with the requirements for covert surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, 2000 (RIPA). 

The Committee is asked to note the requirements of RIPA legislation and the actions in place to ensure that the Council complies with these requirements.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Policy and Performance which sought to provide assurance for Members that Cheshire East Council was complying with the requirements for covert surveillance under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

RIPA was designed to control the use of surveillance to ensure that less intrusive options had been considered and that the necessity and proportionality of any surveillance had been assessed and that it had been properly authorised.  The key use of RIPA was for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime, or preventing disorder.

It was noted that the Government was currently conducting a review of the use of RIPA and access to communications data.  The administration of this would have implications for the Authority.

RESOLVED:  That the Committee note the requirements of RIPA legislation and the actions in place to ensure that the Council complied with these requirements.