Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2013/181

Contact: Richard Webb, Trading Standards & Community Safety Manager Tel: (01865) 815791

Report by Director for Social & Community Services (CMDPC4).

Birmingham City Council Trading Standards Service operates an Illegal Money Lending Team funded by central Government. The purpose of this team is to investigate allegations of illegal money lending activity, establish if illegal activity is being pursued and, if so, to take enforcement action against those persons carrying on this activity.The team is staffed with specialist officers and has proved effective in tackling illegal money lending activity and in supporting victims.

For the Illegal Money Lending Team to operate outside of Birmingham it is necessary to delegate to Birmingham City Council authority to enforce the Consumer Credit Act 1974 in Oxfordshire. In November 2009 the Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities agreed to delegate authority for enforcement of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to Birmingham City Council. An agreement was entered into with Birmingham City Council to enable the Illegal Money Lending Team to operate in Oxfordshire. This agreement was for a period of two years. An extension of the agreement for a further two years was approved in 2011. Therefore, a further delegation of authority is necessary if the team is to continue to operate in Oxfordshire.

This report summarises the background to Birmingham City Council's Illegal Money Lending Team and the work undertaken in Oxfordshire by this team alongside the Trading Standards Service. The paper requests authorisation for the arrangement with Birmingham City Council to be extended.

The Cabinet Member for Policy Coordination is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)              agree to continue the delegation of the function of the enforcement of Part III of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to be carried out in Oxfordshire by Birmingham City Council and to delegate the power of prosecution to Birmingham City Council for any matters associated with or discovered during an investigation by the illegal money lending team;

(b)              agree that authority be delegated to the Trading Standards and Community Safety Manager to enter into a further agreement with Birmingham City Council on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council to enable the Illegal Money Lending Team to operate in Oxfordshire and to make minor alterations to this agreement if required.