Halton Borough Council has approved plans to grant free council tax to foster carers, hoping the scheme will encourage more people to consider fostering.
Both newly approved and existing carers who live in the borough will get the exemption. It is hoped that the initiative will help retain current foster carers as well as recruit new ones.
Halton’s Borough Council’s Executive Board member for Children & Young People, Cllr Tom McInerney, said “Right now, a lot of work is being carried out to increase the number of council foster carers.
“We want to see our looked after children and young people thrive, and we want to support the foster carers who are making such a huge difference to their lives by relieving some of the financial pressure.”
There are currently approximately 70 fostering households within the borough. After taking into account existing discounts such as council tax reduction, the exemption amounts to approximately £70,000 per annum.
Cllr McInerney continued: “This is an invest to save initiative, if just one child is placed with a new council foster carer instead of a residential placement it would more than offset the total cost of the council tax discount.”
To find out more about becoming a foster carer in Halton visit foster4.co.uk, call 0800 195 3175 or attend the next Become a foster carer Information Session at Halton Stadium, Tuesday 26 March at 6pm.