Decision details

Purpose of report: To inform members of Birmingham City council's Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) and the extension of the remit of the team to tackle illegal money lending activities in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Members are asked to:  Approve the delegation of the power to prosecute to Birmingham City Council to institute legal proceedings in respect of any investigation carried out by the IMLT.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

(i)         That Option 1 be approved and it be agreed that the discharge of the Council’s functions of the enforcement of Part III of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 also be carried out in the City of York by Birmingham City Council (Pursuant to Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972, Regulation 7 of the Local Authority (Arrangements for Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2000 and Section 13 (7) of the Local Government Act 2000).

(ii)        That the adoption of the “Protocol for Illegal Money Lending Team Investigations” be agreed and it be agreed that authority be delegated to the Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards to enter into the agreement on behalf of City of York Council.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and

endorsed.

REASONS:                (i)         To obtain a clear understanding of the scale and impact of illegal money lending as well as learning lessons on the best way to enforce.

(ii)To create a climate where victims can come forward – confident that prosecutions will be undertaken, and convictions obtained, without fear of reprisals.