Foster carers in Bury are to set to get a 50 per cent off their council tax bills and increases in payments of up to 34 per cent as the council looks to boost the numbers of carers. The halving of bills, which if councillors approve, will start next year, is part of measures to attract more foster carers and retain the existing skilled and experienced carers.
Currently there are 371 children in the council’s care. Bury Council said that had placed ‘significant demand pressures’ on the availability of foster care placements in Bury. They said as a result, too many children are being placed outside Bury in independent foster agencies (IFAs) or residential placements.
Those placements are significantly more expensive and mean children are forced to move away from their home area. The council’s spend on IFA foster homes for Bury children in care has risen by nearly £1M in the past two years, a 35 per cent increase.
