The Committee considered a report by the Senior Solicitor and Monitoring Officer regarding the Review of RIPA Policy (circulated previously). 

The Senior Solicitor and Monitoring Officer presented the report to the Committee and confirmed that:

·       To ensure future compliance with RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000) the Council’s procedure was required to remain fully up to date. It was the Senior Solicitor and Monitoring Officer’s view that they remain sufficiently up-to-date and relevant.

·       The procedure would be presented to Members via Governance Committee annually in future (as would be covered in the Work Programme item later).

·       The Authority had not been required to use covert powers of surveillance since 2014.

·       Further training would be provided to staff to raise general awareness of RIPA to avoid inadvertent breach and more specific training to front line staff on when RIPA is engaged.

In response to a question, the Senior Solicitor and Monitoring Officer advised that he would consider whether RIPA training was required for Councillors.

RESOLVED that the Council’s Procedure for Ensuring Compliance with RIPA (Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000) Policy be APPROVED as appropriate and remain as currently drafted.