Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point in the meeting, the Executive Member is asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests;

·        any prejudicial interests;

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

The Executive Member confirmed that he had no personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, nor any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests, to declare in the business on the agenda.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Decision Session held on 23 July 2018.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the joint Decision Session held on 23 July 2018 be approved and signed as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Friday, 21 September 2018. Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the Executive Member’s remit.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting may be filmed and webcast,or recorded, including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts or, if recorded, this will be uploaded onto the Council’s website following the meeting.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at

https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/11406/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings_20160809

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report provides an overview of the activities of the National Trading Standards Regional Investigations and eCrime Team and seeks approval for a revision to the distribution of Proceeds of Crime Act monies received under the government’s Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme.

Resolved:  That the revision to the distribution of the ARIS monies received from NTS prosecutions be approved, in accordance with paragraph 13 of the report and Option A in paragraph 15.

Reason:     To enable funds to be available to NYCC for development and support of the eCrime function.

The Executive Member considered a report which provided an overview of the activities of the National Trading Standards (NTS) Regional Investigation and eCrime Team and sought approval for a revision to the distribution of Proceeds of Crime Act monies received under the government’s Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS).

As well as carrying out regional investigations, City of York Council (CYC) undertook national eCrime investigations / prosecutions as part of a partnership with North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC).  Cases were often complex and lengthy, with multiple defendants and victims.  Prosecutions during 2017/18 had resulted in the imposition of prison sentences totalling 60 years and Confiscation Orders totalling £3,562,840, from which compensation of £287,866 had been paid to victims.

As investigator and prosecutor, CYC received 37.5% of any monies paid under Confiscation Orders.  Of this, 50% was returned to NTS, 25% was retained for spending on local issues and 25% was currently paid to the Yorkshire & Humber group of local authority trading standards services (YAHTSG) to fund regional trading standards projects.  The recommended proposal (Option A) was to pay the 25% received from eCrime cases to NYCC instead, enabling them to develop and enhance the digital forensics capacity to support the work of CYC’s eCrime investigators. Option B was to maintain the current position.

Resolved:  That the revision to the distribution of the ARIS monies received from NTS eCrime prosecutions be approved, in accordance with paragraph 13 of the report and Option A in paragraph 15.

Reason:     To enable funds to be available to NYCC for development and support of the eCrime function.