Ceredigion County Council proposes higher allowances for foster carers

Ceredigion County Council's Cabinet has backed a proposal to increase allowances for registered foster carers and potentially provide a 100 per cent council tax rebate. The initiative aims to address a rising demand for local placements, noting that the number of children in care has grown from 85 in March 2021 to 149.

Councillor Alun Williams, the council’s deputy leader, reported that local authority carers are being targeted by independent agencies offering higher pay. If carers move to these agencies, the council may face significantly higher costs to maintain placement continuity.

The proposal suggests replacing current multi-component allowances, which average £290 per week, with a simplified set equivalent to £560 per week by 2026/27. The annual cost for allowances is expected to rise from £883,000 to approximately £1.689 million. The combined cost of the allowance increase and the proposed council tax relief is estimated at roughly £922,000 per year.