The Leader of the Opposition and Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council, Councillor Howard Sykes MBE, has called for an exemption on council tax payments for care leavers under 25.
Councillor Sykes has requested the exemption in a letter to the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Abdul Jabbar, and the Borough Treasurer, Anne Ryans.
Councillor Sykes said: “There are approximately 170 care-leavers in Oldham. As a local authority we have a duty of care to care-leavers and as Councillors we have a responsibility to these vulnerable young people as ‘corporate parents’. The Oldham Liberal Democrats are keen to ensure that all care-leavers are given the best start into adulthood that is possible. In my view this should include protection from the damage of council tax debt.”
When care leavers move into independent accommodation they begin to manage their own budget fully for the first time. In 2016, the Children’s Society’s ‘Wolf at the Door’ report found that care leavers can find this extremely challenging; they are suddenly living independently, managing a household whilst continuing education or seeking employment, as well as managing their personal finances, and paying bills. Often with no family to support them and insufficient financial education, care-leavers fall into debt and financial difficulty. The report also found that council tax debt is an especial challenge for young care leavers.
Councillor Sykes explained: “What can start out for many of these young people as a situation in which they are falling slightly behind on their payments can very quickly and frighteningly escalate to a court summons and enforcement action being taken, all incurring significant additional costs that have to be met by the care-leaver.”
The Children’s Society is asking local authorities to adopt a policy of exempting care-leavers from council tax until they are 25 years of age. There are a number of Labour- and Conservative-led councils which have already adopted this low-cost policy, including Islington, Hammersmith & Fulham, Cheshire East, North Somerset and Birmingham.
In his letter, Councillor Sykes has stated his strong support for Oldham Council introducing a similar policy as a priority. Councillor Sykes is very pleased to report Councillor Jabbar has already indicated he will be looking into this.