The Motion, as printed in the Agenda was proposed by Councillor J Kent and seconded by Councillor Okunade. The Motion read as follows:

Care leavers who were looked after by the Council are amongst the most vulnerable groups in our community. As Corporate parents we should aim to keep young people safe and improve their life chances. Therefore Thurrock Council resolves that - to help ensure the transition from care to adult life is as smooth as possible, and to mitigate the chances of care leavers falling into debt as they begin to manage their own finances, that the executive bring forward plans and a decision to exempt care leavers from paying Council Tax up to the age of 25 from 2018/19.

Councillor J Kent introduced the Motion and stated that he would not be supporting the proposed amendment and urged all Members to vote against it. Councillor J Kent stated that it was the responsibility of Members as Corporate Parents to take this role seriously and to help and ease the care leaver’s transition into independent adults. In some cases this was not always straight forward and some had poorer life chances than others. Councillor J Kent urged all members to support.

Councillor Okunade, as seconder to the Motion, stated the comments made by the Section 151 Officer should be considered and noted. That there was a lot of pressure on care leavers to pay this council tax and although independency was good it had to be financially stable.

Councillors Tolson and MacPherson left the Council Chamber at 9.10pm.

A proposed amendment to the Motion had been submitted by Councillor Halden and seconded by Councillor S Little. The amended Motion read as follows:

Care leavers who were looked after by the Council are amongst the most vulnerable groups in our community. As Corporate parents we should aim to keep young people safe and improve their life chances. Therefore Thurrock Council resolves that - to help ensure the transition from care to adult life is as smooth as possible, and to mitigate the chances of care leavers falling into debt as they begin to manage their own finances, that the executive bring forward plans in its “headstart housing paper - supporting care leavers”, which is proposed for December Scrutiny, includes proposals for targeted Council tax relief and for Scrutiny to make recommendations to Cabinet regarding  a whole package of support for these young people and that Council now adds it’s support for an executive decision for start of the year 2018/19.

Councillor Halden stated the Headstart Housing Paper in Supporting Care Leavers should be considered by scrutiny at the December committee as a straight forward exemption for care leavers paying council tax may not be the best option. That he encouraged Members to take the amendment, work as a cross party to look at options and ensure the balance was right that it was being offered to people based on what they need.

Councillor S Little stated her support for the Amendment and confirmed that the Council supported care leavers up to the age of 25 with a few having been extended beyond that age. That the paper should go to scrutiny to address all the different needs so that it creates a dependent culture.

Councillor Spillman stated this was a brilliant motion.

Councillor Huelin stated her support for the Motion provided Councillor Halden’s amendment was made.

Councillor Halden stated it was a good motion which was going to be implemented in the future anyway. That the Policy had to be comprehensive so that it supported care leavers into independency and to help them get out of the system. That some care leavers may require more help than others and that a detailed target approach was required. Councillor Halden volunteered to attend the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee to talk Members through the paper.

Councillor J Kent welcomed Councillor Halden’s suggestion to widen and broaden the package but stated it had not meant that the Council could not make that decision tonight and agree that tax council should be exempt for care leavers up to the age of 25. Councillor J Kent had taken advice from two reports written by the Children’s Society and that the amendment should be rejected to ensure that all care leavers got exemption.

The Mayor called a vote on the amended Motion.

Upon being put to the vote, 24 Members voted in favour of the Amendment with 10 Members against whereupon the Mayor declared the Amendment carried.

The Mayor called a vote on the Motion as amended.

Following a clear majority in favour, the Mayor declared the Amended Motion carried.