Issue - meetings

To provide the annual report on the Council’s use of RIPA and any related matters.

The Director of Corporate and Customer Services introduced the annual report on the Council’s use of RIPA and any related matters.

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) was put in place to ensure that the use of investigatory powers by certain organisations complies with the UK's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) including Article 8 (the right to privacy). The proper authorisation of certain covert surveillance powers under RIPA ensures that the Council is acting in accordance with such human rights.The purpose of this annual report was to set out the level and nature of the Council’s use of covert surveillance under RIPA.

The District Council’s RIPA Policy was approved by Council in January 2020. It clearly explained the type of surveillance the Council could and could not undertake and also explained those limited circumstances where covert surveillance, requiring external authorization, may be appropriate. It was noted in the report that the policy ensured compliance with the regulatory framework for the use of covert investigatory techniques by officers, as set out in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and RIPA (Directed Surveillance and Covert Human Intelligence Sources CHIS) Order 2010 (and as amended 2012).

The Committee were informed that the Council had not used its RIPA surveillance powers during the 2021/22 financial year and the Council’s RIPA Authorising Officers had not approved the use of covert surveillance techniques in any cases. The last time such powers were used dates back to 2014.

It was moved by Councillor Sue Bull, seconded by Councillor Mark Wakeman and

RESOLVED (Unanimously)

1.  That the report be noted.

2.  That the procedure for the use of corporate social media accounts to access information be endorsed and included in the RIPA Policy. 

The Chairman declared the motion CARRIED.