Foster carers in Stirling may have to wait until Christmas to find out if they will get a boost in their fees and allowances to help them through the cost of living crisis.
Independent councillor Alasdair Macpherson told a full meeting of Stirling Council last Thursday that he had met with local foster carers - and had heard that some were even resorting to using foodbanks.
Councillor Macpherson and Green councillor Alasdair Tollemache had put forward a motion seeking a 10.2 per cent increase in fees and allowances for the foster carers - the same figure successfully negotiated for the lowest paid government workers - to be backdated to April.
However, while agreeing with the motion that the council “values the love and dedication our foster carers give to the most vulnerable children in our communities”, the remaining councillors opted to back an amendment, proposed by Labour’s Councillor Danny Gibson and seconded by Councillor Margaret Brisley.
The amendment stated: “Council notes that this matter was considered at the January 2020 children and young people committee as well as the March 12 2020 Stirling Council and that the chief social work officer (CSWO) has delegated authority to review foster and kinship carer fees and allowances.
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“The matter remains under review by the CSWO, which will determine the increase that will be provided once the process has concluded. Council instructs a further paper to come to December council to update on progress.”
Council officials said there were around three times as many children (114) in kinship care (cared for by relatives) as were in foster care (39).
Councillor Macpherson told the meeting: “I have met the foster carers on several occasions, both individually and as groups, and I’ve heard lots of harrowing stories. It’s an affront that we have registered foster carers who are having to attend foodbanks and a terrible indictment of this council. I know Councillor Brisley challenges that.”
Councillor Gibson said the issue of foster carers’ fees and allowances was something that was taken seriously and that their contribution was valued.
COSLA and the Scottish Government are also currently discussing introduction a national allowance instead of the 32 existing variations across Scottish local authorities.
“We might not be the top in Scotland,” said Councillor Gibson, “but we are still at the high to middle end of this and by no means in the bottom half with what we do already.
“No one is disputing that we want to get a rise in place. Hopefully that will be done as quickly and efficiently as possible so the payments can get made. We are simply going to get the update once the work has been carried out so that payments can be made to those who want it, need it and are very much deserving of it.
“We expect the review to be complete before December.”
Councillor Gibson said indicative figures provided by officers showed a 10.2 per cent rise would cost around £180,000, although Councillor Macpherson said he had been told at least three per cent had already been factored in and potentially five per cent so the amount which would need to be found should not be as high as that.
Councillor Tollemache said: “Putting myself in the place of a foster carers, in January and March 2020 we would have known there was going to be a review. That is taking a really long time and if you’re a foster carer waiting for the result and you’re struggling with the cost of living, as many people are, you would think that was a sufficient amount of time to do everything you needed to do and get the facts you need to come to a conclusion.
“It’s an extraordinary amount of time and now it’s going to take even longer.”
Following the meeting, Councillor Macpherson said: “The decision to kick this matter into the long grass for two months is by far the cruellest and most heartless taken in the 15 years I have been a councillor.
“Foster carers have had little or no increase in fees and allowances for over 10 years and this was an opportunity to provide desperately needed support during a cost-of-living crisis in the run up to Christmas.”
