Issue - meetings

Arising from a report of the Head of Communities and Governance, the Community Well-Being Policy Development Group had recommended that the updated RIPA policy be approved.

Arising from a report of the Head of Communities and Governance, the Community Well-Being Policy Development Group had recommended that the updated RIPA policy be approved.

The Head of Communities and Governance outlined the contents of the report stating that the policy had been reviewed in light of the Office of Surveillance Commissioner’s report following inspection in April 2015 and in accordance with good practice

RESOLVED that the recommendation be approved.

(Proposed by Cllr P H D Hare-Scott and seconded by Cllr C R Slade)

Note:  *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.

The Committee to review the Councils updated RIPA Policy.

Appendices mentioned in the report attached to this agenda can be found on the Home Office website at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ripa-forms--2.

The Group had before it a report * from the Head of Communities and Governance requesting that it review and make recommendation to Cabinet regarding the Councils updated RIPA policy.

The Head of Communities and Governance informed the Group that the RIPA Policy had been considered by a Surveillance Inspector of the Office of Surveillance Commissioner during an inspection in April 2015. The comments of the Surveillance Inspector were that the policy was ‘a succinct and thorough guide which would be of assistance to applicants and authorising officers alike’. The Office of Surveillance had stated that it was good practice to review and update the RIPA Policy on an annual basis. Therefore the policy had been reviewed in light of the Office of Surveillance Commissioners report and in accordance with good practice.

The Officer explained that it was necessary to obtain authorisation from the Magistrate before surveillance could take place.

It was RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that the updated RIPA Policy be approved.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Note: - Report previously circulated and attached to Minutes.