Plymouth City Council offers benefits to foster carers

It hopes to persuade people to choose it over independent fostering agencies, which cost £30,000 more per child per yearLocal Democracy Reporting Service

Carers are being offered council tax exemption, sports and leisure memberships, help with planning permission, and better training and support.The aim is to persuade carers to choose the council over independent fostering agencies, which cost the council about £30,000 more per child per year.Councillor Jemima Laing, deputy council leader and cabinet member for children’s social care said: "We need to address the balance of ratio of local authority foster carers to independent ones.

The Education and Children’s Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee has recommended to Cabinet that a council tax exemption for foster carers is considered.Respite carers will receive 50% reduction if they have children for at least 91 days a year.The council also plans to "celebrate" and listen to its foster carers.

"We have an awards night for the children and young people we foster and everything we are doing like this needs to be shared," said Ms Laing.Follow BBC News South West on

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