Issue - meetings

The report of the Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods is attached.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    The Nottinghamshire Local Officer for Care Leavers is approved and;

b)    That delegated authority be given to the Executive Manager for Communities to explore and report to Cabinet how the Council might work with Nottinghamshire County Council to support Looked After Children and those at risk/vulnerable of becoming so.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Leisure presented the report of the Executive Manager – Neighbourhoods, which asks for Cabinet approval for the Council to explore working with Nottinghamshire County Council to support Care leavers. The report provided a summary of the District/Borough Council elements contained within the proposed Nottinghamshire Local Offer for Care Leavers, attached as Appendix 1 with the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Leisure explained that there are approximately 70,000 children in care in England at any one time. Many of these young people when they leave care do so without the support of a loving family and often face serious disadvantage, compared to their peers.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Leisure added that Borough/District chief executives have expressed ‘in principle’ support for a number of proposals subject to approval of their respective Councils. These include:

·         Employment, skills and Apprenticeships – with the intention to more actively signpost care leavers to apprenticeships made available by Borough/District Councils and where possible, to prioritise care leavers for local authority apprenticeships.

·         Housing – working together to secure a consistent offer that gives priority to care leavers within Housing Allocation Schemes, together with a commitment to help care leavers secure accommodation.

·         Physical and Mental Health – it is proposed that all Borough/District Councils consider providing free membership of their leisure centres to care leavers.

In addition Borough/District Councils have previously agreed to exempt care leavers from council Tax up to their 25^th birthday as part of the development of this Local Offer.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Leisure advised that in supporting the Local Offer the Council would fulfil its statutory Corporate Parenting duties, improve lifetime outcomes for care leavers in Rushcliffe and across Nottinghamshire and reduce lifetime local and national spend on care leavers.

In seconding the recommendations, Councillor Upton commented that without family support and a care network it must be incredibly difficult for care leavers.

Councillor Edyvean added that anything the Council could provide to help care leavers in the transition to adult life must be a good thing.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)    The Nottinghamshire Local Officer for Care Leavers is approved and;

b)    That delegated authority be given to the Executive Manager for Communities to explore and report to Cabinet how the Council might work with Nottinghamshire County Council to support Looked After Children and those at risk/vulnerable of becoming so.