Issue - meetings

To consider the head of legal and democratic’s report. 

The committee considered the head of legal and democratic’s report on how the councils had deployed and would seek to deploy the use of covert surveillance in enforcement work, having regard to the principles of necessity, proportionality and lawfulness.  The report reviewed the policy and procedures and sought endorsement of a revised document, designed to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. 

The committee welcomed the report and supported the revised policy and procedures. 

RESOLVED: to

(a)      note that surveillance is one of the tools available to the councils as part of their law enforcement functions; 

(b)      endorse the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 Policy and Procedures document, for use by council teams as part of their work; and 

(c)       authorise the head of legal and democratic to make such changes to the policy and procedures document, as considered necessary from time to time to ensure ongoing compliance with the requirements of the 2000 Act and associated guidance.