Money lending shop task force set up by Medway Council

A cross-party group of councillors has been set up to look into the licensing of money lending shops in Medway.

Debt and a lack of access to affordable credit was "causing stress and anxiety to many families", Medway Council said.

The Tory-run council agreed to lobby the government to give local authorities greater powers to control who gets licences to run the shops.

The Consumer Finance Association has advised people not to use money lending shops to borrow their way out of debt.

The council took action following a motion put forward by the Labour councillor Vince Maple.