Decision details

The Council has powers under Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to reduce Council Tax by way of a discount for both Care leavers and Foster Carers.  This report will consider the options available and make recommendations.

RESOLVED (unanimously) the Cabinet agreed:

2.1  That a class of reduction will be applied in accordance with the Bath & North East Somerset Care Leaver Relief Scheme detailed in the report.

2.2  That a class of reduction will be applied in accordance with the Bath & North East Somerset Foster Carers Relief Scheme detailed in the report.

By introducing a care leavers relief scheme the Council is reducing the financial burden on care leavers within its area.

This is an initiative that was supported across all parties at a recent Council meeting and the implementation of the scheme (s) are deemed to be of benefit to all Council Tax payers in the area.

The scheme (s) for Council Tax relief can only apply to Council Tax payers resident in Bath & North East Somerset, although it is recognised the parenting responsibility for care leavers extends to people who may now live outside the Council’s area. The Council is keen to work with neighbouring authorities to encourage a similar approach in these areas.

We have looked at a number of options from doing nothing to providing funds for care leavers living outside the Council’s area.

We have also considered a variable rate of discount to be applied to care leavers depending upon age and circumstances but we felt this was cumbersome and confusing.

We feel that simple schemes for both care leavers and foster carers will help us to target those most in need at the lowest cost to the Council Tax payers in general. An Equalities Impact Assessment for both schemes has been conducted and is published on the Council’s website.