Issue - meetings

Following statutory introduction of approval from a Justice of the Peace, that the proposed new Corporate Policy and Protocol on the application of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, (as set out in Annex 2 to the submitted report), be endorsed.

Reasons for Decisions:

The introduction of a new Corporate Policy and Protocol will provide an updated framework to ensure that the authority continues to comply fully with the requirements of RIPA. It will maintain existing controls and the external audit regime and implement the additional statutory requirements of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Communities Select Committee]

The Cabinet Member for Community Services requested that Cabinet endorsed an updated Corporate Policy and Protocol on the use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) by council services.

She said that the proposed policy provided an updated framework to ensure that the Authority continued to comply fully with the requirements of RIPA following the coming into force of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and took account of the changes in the structure of the Trading Standards Service.

She referred to examples set out in the report, detailing how/why the powers may be used and also said that both the previous and proposed policy and protocol on the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act had been attached as Annexes to the report.

Finally, she drew attention to the comprehensive Equalities Impact Assessment attached to the report.

The Cabinet Member for Assets and Regeneration Programmes said that he was pleased that it was now a statutory requirement for all application to be considered by a Justice of the Peace.

RESOLVED:

Following statutory introduction of approval from a Justice of the Peace, that the proposed new Corporate Policy and Protocol on the application of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, (as set out in Annex 2 to the submitted report), be endorsed.

Reasons for Decisions:

The introduction of a new Corporate Policy and Protocol will provide an updated framework to ensure that the authority continues to comply fully with the requirements of RIPA. It will maintain existing controls and the external audit regime and implement the additional statutory requirements of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012.