Issue - meetings

Report on the authority’s policy for compliance with the regulation of investigatory powers act 2000, the use of activities within the scope of this act and recent inspection by the investigatory powers commissioner’s office

 

 

Meeting: 23/01/2024 - Cabinet (Item 10)

10 Report on the Authority's Policy for compliance with the regulation of the Investigatory Powers Act 2000 , the use of activities within the scope of this act and the recent inspection by the Investigatory Powers Commisioner's Office pdf icon PDF 223 KB

Cabinet Member: Community & Corporate Services

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/323

Contact: Jody Kerman, Head of Trading Standards

jody.kerman@oxfordshire.gov.uk

 

Report by Director of Law & Governance and Monitoring Officer (CA10)

 

 

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

 

a)              Consider and note the use of activities within the scope of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act by the Council, and

 

b)              Approve the revised Policy for Compliance with the Investigation of Regulatory Powers Act 2000 included in the annex of this paper

 

c)              Note the comments provided by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office regarding assurance of ongoing compliance with RIPA 2000 and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 and that a further inspection is not required until 2026.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Recommendations approved.

Minutes:

Cabinet had before it a report providing a summary of the covert activities undertaken by the council between April 2022 and March 2023 under the provisions of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and supporting Codes of Practice. The Council’s existing Policy for Compliance with the Investigation of Regulatory Powers Act 2000  was updated annually but had not been subjected to a full refresh since 2017. The report provided Cabinet with an opportunity to review and approve the council’s Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act Policy. The policy required Cabinet approval in the absence of a delegation in the Constitution to another body or committee for approval.

 

Councillor Neil Fawcett, Cabinet Member for Community and Corporate Services, presented the report.

 

The Director of Law & Governance explained that, when the Council used the powers in the RIPA act, there was an additional level of oversight by the magistrates courts.

 

Councillor Fawcett moved, and Councillor Ley seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

 

RESOLVED to :

 

a)              Consider and note the use of activities within the scope of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act by the Council, and

 

b)              Approve the revised Policy for Compliance with the Investigation of Regulatory Powers Act 2000 included in the annex of this paper

 

c)              Note the comments provided by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office regarding assurance of ongoing compliance with RIPA 2000 and the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 and that a further inspection is not required until 2026.