HOPES are high a new policy exempting young people leaving care from paying council tax will be adopted by Redditch Borough Council.
The scheme, which is being piloted by Councillor Tom Baker-Price (Con, Headless Cross & Oakenshaw), has been adopted by Worcestershire County Council, and is already being introduced by Wyre Forest, Malvern Hills and Wychavon district councils.
Coun Baker-Price raised the idea in response to a Children’s Society ‘Wolf at the Door’ report.
“This report and the Care Leavers Council of Worcestershire told us that the council tax cliff edge is a key barrier to a successful, independent adulthood,” said Coun Baker-Price.
He said the key aim of the measure was to prevent homelessness.
“A third of children in care become care leavers living in independent accommodation before their 18th birthday and according to the Children’s Society 26 per cent of care leavers sofa surfed and 14 per cent have slept rough,” he added.
As a County Councillor for Arrow Valley East, he put the scheme forward at County Hall last week.
The resolution, which was successfully passed, asked the six district councils in Worcestershire, including Redditch borough council, to exempt care leavers from paying council tax until they were 21.
“I also believe we need to introduce a transitional system that will result in the care leaver paying the full rate of tax on or before their 25th birthday,” added Coun Baker-Price.
It goes before Redditch full council this Monday, January 29.
