Purpose

This report sets out AfC's intention to offer off all in-house foster carers a rebate on their council tax as long as they have a child in placement. AfC are competing to recruit foster carers with both external fostering agencies and other local authorities and this change in practice is to ensure we remain competitive in recruiting mainstream carers. A wider pool of foster carers allows us to keep children locally, ensure better matching of the children's needs with the carer's skills and reduces pressure on our external placement budget.

Decision

AGREED: That Cabinet noted the report and:

i)                 agreed to offer the reimbursement and delegated the implementation to the Executive Director of Children's Services and Education.