Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

1.    That the proposed new Corporate Policy and Protocol on the application of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 was endorsed.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Community Safety Fire and Resilience in consultation with the relevant Director to approve the Corporate Policy and Protocol on the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and any subsequent changes to this and that the Director of Law and Governance be authorised to make the necessary changes to the Council’s Scheme of Delegation and the Constitution be updated accordingly.

Reason for decision:

Following the RIPA Inspection carried out in February 2019, recommendations and observations were made to the Corporate Policy and Protocol on the use of RIPA which has led to the requirement to make some minor amendments to the Policy.

The inclusion of the updates within the Corporate Policy and Protocol will provide an updated framework to ensure that the authority continues to comply fully with the requirements of RIPA. The updates ensure that Surrey County Council is operating in accordance with the latest legislation.

Allowing future changes to the policy to be authorised by the relevant Cabinet member using delegated powers will prevent this policy repeatedly being placed before full Cabinet for consideration.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee]

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Support introduced a report that sought agreement of an updated Policy and Protocol on the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) by Surrey County Council services.  The update included changes on how services access communications data, changes recommended during an inspection of Surrey County Council’s use of RIPA earlier this year and sought agreement for future changes to the policy to be made by the relevant Cabinet Member using delegated powers.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the proposed new Corporate Policy and Protocol on the application of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 was endorsed.

2.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Community Safety Fire and Resilience in consultation with the relevant Director to approve the Corporate Policy and Protocol on the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and any subsequent changes to this and that the Director of Law and Governance be authorised to make the necessary changes to the Council’s Scheme of Delegation and the Constitution be updated accordingly.

The decision was unanimous.

Reason for decision:

Following the RIPA Inspection carried out in February 2019, recommendations and observations were made to the Corporate Policy and Protocol on the use of RIPA which has led to the requirement to make some minor amendments to the Policy.

The inclusion of the updates within the Corporate Policy and Protocol will provide an updated framework to ensure that the authority continues to comply fully with the requirements of RIPA. The updates ensure that Surrey County Council is operating in accordance with the latest legislation.

Allowing future changes to the policy to be authorised by the relevant Cabinet member using delegated powers will prevent this policy repeatedly being placed before full Cabinet for consideration.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee]