Members considered a motion in relation to a proposal for care leavers to be exempt from paying Council Tax, notice of which was given in accordance with Standing Order A14.

Councillor Doggett proposed and Councillor Stocks seconded the motion, as set out below:

The Council notes that:

1.         Last year a number of young people (aged 16 or over) left the care of Torbay Local Authority and began the difficult transition out of care and into adulthood;

2.         A 2016 report by the Children’s Society found that when care leavers move into independent accommodation they begin to manage their own budget fully for the first time.  The report showed that care leavers can find this extremely challenging and, with no family to support them and insufficient financial education, are falling into debt and financial difficulty;

3.         Research from the Centre of Social Justice found that over half (57%) of young people leaving care have difficulty managing their money and avoiding debt when leaving care;  and

4.         The Local Authority has a duty of care to care leavers.

The Council believes that:

1.         To ensure that the transition from care to adult life is as smooth as possible, and to mitigate the chances of care leavers falling into debt as they begin to manage their own finances, they should be exempt from paying Council Tax until they are aged 25.

2.         Care leavers are a particularly vulnerable group for Council Tax debt.

This Council resolves:

(i)        to request officers to explore exempting all care leavers from Council tax up to the age of 25 as part of the development of the 2018/19 Council Tax Support Scheme; and

(ii)        the Mayor write to the Minister of State for Children and Families, Edward Timpson M.P, urging him to introduce a national exemption for care leavers from Council Tax up to the age of 25.

An amendment by Councillor Thomas (D) and seconded by Councillor Barnby was circulated prior to the meeting.  Councillor Doggett and Councillor Stocks accepted the amendment, which was then incorporated in the original motion and was agreed by the Council (unanimously) as set out below:

This Council resolves:

            To request officers to explore all aspects involved in exempting all care leavers from Council tax up to the age of 25 as part of the development of the 2018/19 Council Tax Support Scheme and provide a report to Council in order for them to be fully aware of the financial implications of such a scheme, The report should include, but not be limited to:

1.         the number of care leavers currently in the system that would be affected together with a projection of numbers over the next 5 years;

2.         the impact of providing such support to care leavers from other authorities who move into the area, together with those Torbay care leavers who move out of the area;

3.         the cost of implementation of such a scheme;

4.         whether the Council can lawfully do this;

5.         support currently offered to this group of individuals; and

6.         what enhanced education could be provided regarding money management and financial difficulty before care leavers have to face this issue.