Issue - meetings

To present the report of the Head of Children and Families’ Services.

It was resolved -

·        That Children and Families’ Services proceed to offer a more attractive package for the Local Authority’s Foster Carers to include the following –

· An increase of 10% in the Fostering Allowance

· A 50% discount in Council Tax

· Free Isle of Anglesey Leisure Services Membership cards

· Free Council car parking tickets

·        To authorise an amendment to the Council Tax Discretionary Relief Policy to reflect the discount granted to Foster Carers.

·        To authorise the necessary transfer of budgets from Children and Families’ Services to cover the cost of providing the additional benefits which fall on other services or budgets.

The report of the Head of Children and Families’ Services setting out a proposed package of enhanced benefits for Foster Carers along with their cost implications was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Chair and Portfolio Member for Social Services reported that in order to recruit and retain more Foster Carers thereby increasing the placements available to meet the increasing demand for placements for local looked after children, it is considered that investment is needed to provide a more comprehensive package of benefits for Foster Carers. This would include an increased Fostering Allowance; discounted Council Tax; a free Isle of Anglesey Leisure Service Membership card and a free Council car parking ticket. The proposals have been put to the Councils’ Members in a briefing session as well as to the Town and Community Councils Forum and the Children’s Services Improvement Panel.

The Head of Children and Families’ Services said that many Foster Carers choose to foster for private agencies because they can offer a better rate of payment. It is difficult for the Council to compete against these rates but increasing the Fostering Allowance (but not the payment or skills element) along with the other proposed benefits should bring more Foster Carers for the Council which in terms of providing better placement choice, is important. Currently, the Council in some instances places children with private Foster Carers via private agencies which means the Council pays a premium because it does not have enough Foster Carers on its own register to meet the demand. Offering a more competitive package of allowances and benefits should make it easier to recruit Foster Carers which in turn will bring savings.

The Head of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer said that there is a risk in increasing the fostering allowance in so much as if the Council does not recruit enough Foster Carers from the independent sector to be able to reduce its use of private Foster Carers and thereby the associated costs, it will end up with higher costs as a result of this scheme.

It was resolved -

•           That Children and Families’ Services proceed to offer a more attractive package for the Local Authority’s Foster Carers to include the following –

•           An increase of 10% in the Fostering Allowance

•           A 50% discount in Council Tax

•           Free Isle of Anglesey Leisure Services Membership cards

•           Free Council car parking tickets

•           To authorise an amendment to the Council Tax Discretionary Relief Policy to reflect the discount granted to Foster Carers.

•           To authorise the necessary transfer of budgets from Children and Families’ Services to cover the cost of providing the additional benefits which fall on other services or budgets.