Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets introduced the report, which recommends some changes to CBC’s existing care leavers’ council tax discount scheme, recommended after last year’s review of Gloucestershire’s offer, by the Department of Education’s national advisor for care leavers.  There is currently a common policy across the districts, so the recommendations put forward will form an extension of this policy. The proposed change is that from April 2024, care leaves are eligible up until their 25^th birthday (previously 22^nd) and will include care leavers previously in the care of other local authorities as well as Gloucestershire County Council.

He said that all six districts are recommending that the care leaver discount scheme is amended from April 2024 to include these changes, and knowing how vulnerable care leavers are, he was happy to be bringing the report and recommendations, which he hoped Members would support.

There were no Member questions.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Culture, Tourism and Wellbeing commented on another example of the council’s big-hearted approach, looking after its most vulnerable residents. A Member said that his group fully supported the recommendations, and having met a number of care leavers and being aware of the big challenges they can face, felt that the council should do all it could to support them.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets noted that this is not a political issue, but has cross-party support across the county. 

RESOLVED THAT

1.    the Council Tax Discount for Care Leavers scheme in Appendix 2 is approved.

26 in support

1 abstain