Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

(a)  To agree the minutes of the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities meeting held on 8 December 2016.

(b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 December 2016 were signed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

Report of the Executive Director of Place

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Executive Director of Place which presented the Annual Compliance Report under the Regulatory & Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA).

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) governs the acquisition and disclosure of communications data and the use of covert surveillance by local authorities.

The Council used powers under RIPA to support its core functions for the purpose of prevention and detection of crime where an offence may be punishable by a custodial sentence of 6 months or more, or are related to the underage sale of alcohol and tobacco. The three powers available to local authorities under RIPA: the acquisition and disclosure of communications data; directed surveillance; and covert human intelligence sources (“CHIS”).

The Act sets out the procedures that Coventry City Council must follow if it wishes to use directed surveillance techniques or acquire communications data in order to support core function activities (e.g. typically those undertaken by Trading Standards, Environmental Health and Benefits). The information obtained as a result of such operations can later be relied upon in court proceedings providing RIPA is complied with.

The Home Office Code for Covert Surveillance Property Interference recommends that elected members, whilst not involved in making decisions or specific authorisations for the local authority to use its powers under Part II of the Act, should review the Council’s use of the legislation and provide approval to its policies. The Council adopted this approach for oversight of the authority’s use of Parts I and II of the Act.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities:

1.  Notes that the Audit and Procurement Committee made no further comments or recommendations for consideration.

2.  Approves the report as a formal record of the Council’s use and compliance with RIPA.

Report of the Director of Public Health

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Public Health which provided a six month progress report made towards equalities objectives.

On 14^th July 2016, the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities approved the equality objectives for the Council as set out in Appendix 1 of the report (Minute 25/16 refers). The equality objectives were linked to the Council plan and were set for four years or until the next refresh of the Council Plan. The Cabinet Member also agreed to receive a report in the progress made with the equality objectives twice a year; this being the half year from April 2016 to September 2016. The report also recommended that a more cost effective way for the Council to provide information about accessibility of local service buildings be adopted.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for Policing and Equalities:

1.  Considered the progress made on the equality objectives and agreed to receive a further report at end of the year.

2.  Requests the Cabinet Member for Strategic Finance to investigate in greater detail what barriers, if any, are preventing black and ethnic minority employees and women progressing to higher graded posts.

3.  Agrees to alternative more cost effective ways of sharing information about accessibility of buildings and that the Council’s contract with DisabledGo will not be renewed.

Conference Approval Form

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member approves the attendance of the Lord Mayor, Councillor Harvard and the Principal Private Secretary to the Lord Mayoralty to attend the re-opening of the Kulturpalast Civic Centre in Dresden, Germany from 27-29 April 2017.

There are no outstanding issues.

There were no outstanding issues.

(a)  Authority for Attendance – Conference/Seminar

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member approves the attendance of the Lord Mayor (Elect), Councillor Skipper and the Insight Manager (Engagement) Public Health at the Kiel Week and International City Forum 2017 to be held in Kiel, Germany from 16-19 June 2017. 

(Note: The above matter was considered as an item of urgent business, the reason for urgency being the need to confirm all the arrangements at the earliest opportunity).