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.

Content

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.