Monmouthshire could become next council in Wales to exempt care leavers paying council tax

Torfaen council became the first in Wales to approve an exemption and have since been followed by several others.

Calls have been made for the Welsh Government to change council tax laws to exempt all care leavers across Wales from paying.

The Welsh Government has instead encouraged councils to adopt their own schemes.

Next week Monmouthshire County Council's children and young people select committee will discuss a report recommending all care leavers aged 18 to 25 in the county are exempt from paying council tax.

Three options have been put forward as part of the report which is due to go before cabinet on July 4.

The first is to do nothing and continue to charge council tax; the second is to wait to see if Welsh Government change legislation to exempt care leavers from paying; the third, recommended option, is for the council to introduce its own exemption scheme.

The exemption would apply from the 2018/19 financial year, with the council back-dating any future awards to April 1, 2018.

The cost of providing the scheme is estimated at £6,500 per year.

As of March 31 this year, Monmouthshire had 68 care leavers aged between 18 and 25.

Of these, 37 were known to be living in the county with 12 being the main ratepayer.

The Scottish government announced last year exemptions wil be made for care leavers across the country and now charities such as The Children's Society are calling for the Welsh Government to do the same.

The charity says nine councils in Wales have approved the exemption including Torfaen and Caerphilly in Gwent.

Sam Royston, director of policy and research at The Children’s Society, said: "Care leavers have often experienced a really difficult upbringing and they may have experienced abuse, neglect or family breakdown which can have a big impact upon their life chances.

"Without the family support most young people get as they become adults, care leavers often struggle financially and may face impossible choices between paying bills like council tax and buying food and other essential items."

Mr Royston said the charity is calling on the Welsh Government to introduce country-wide exemption but meanwhile he would urge councils to introduce their own schemes.

He added: "We’re delighted that Monmouthshire County Council is proposing to do so because this would make life easier for many young people in the area making the move into independent living."

A spokesman for Welsh Government said: "Regulations are in place which enable local authorities to exempt care leavers from paying council tax. The decision on whether to adopt the exemption is a matter for each local authority."