Care leavers could be exempt from council tax until 21/Eithriad treth gyngor posibl i adawyr gofal dan 21

Care leavers could be exempt from council tax until 21

PEOPLE leaving the care of Carmarthenshire County Council when they reach adulthood could soon be exempt from paying council tax until their 21^st birthday.

Cllr Glynog Davies, executive board member for education and children’s services, today (January 10, 2018) asked council to support a notice of motion to exempt all care leavers from council tax until the age of 21, or 25 in exceptional circumstances.

He was unanimously supported by councillors across all parties, and a policy will now be written and brought back to full council to be formally adopted.

Cllr Davies said: “Care leavers who were looked after by the local authority are amongst the most vulnerable groups in our community. As a part of our corporate parenting role, we believe that Carmarthenshire County Council should aim to keep young people safe and improve their life chances. We have a have a duty to care leavers.

“We believe that we have a responsibility to ensure that, when young people make the transition from care to adult life, the process is as smooth as possible and that we should do all we can to mitigate the changes that often result in care leavers falling into debt as they begin to manage their own finances.”

Leader of the opposition Labour group, said: “I welcome this motion. It certainly raises how important it is that we recognise the difficulties of all children and young people in our communities. I hope this is just the start.”

The Children’s Commissioner for Wales recently reported that many care leavers have to survive on as little as £8 a day, with council tax their biggest outgoing cost after rent.

Last year, 77 young people (aged 16 or over) left the care of Carmarthenshire County Council and began the transition out of care and into adulthood.

Young people leaving care are defined as young people who are entitled to support if they have been looked after for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14, and were in care on their 16th birthday.

People failing to pay their council tax bill can find themselves being subjected to recovery and enforcement action, although in proven cases of hardship local authorities can potentially assist through discretionary policies.

• To watch the full debate and access the agenda documents about this discussion at Full Council, visit the council and democracy section of the council’s website – carmarthenshire.gov.wales

Eithriad treth gyngor posibl i adawyr gofal dan 21

CYN hir gallai pobl sy’n gadael gofal Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin pan fyddant yn troi’n oedolion gael eu heithrio rhag talu’r dreth gyngor nes eu bod yn 21 oed.

Heddiw (10 Ionawr, 2018) gofynnodd y Cynghorydd Glynog Davies, yr Aelod o’r Bwrdd Gweithredol dros Addysg a Phlant, i’r Cyngor gefnogi rhybudd o gynnig i eithrio pawb sy’n gadael gofal rhag talu’r dreth gyngor nes eu bod yn 21 oed, neu 25 mewn amgylchiadau eithriadol.

Cafodd gefnogaeth unfrydol y cynghorwyr o bob plaid, a bydd polisi yn cael ei ysgrifennu yn awr a’i roi gerbron y Cyngor llawn er mwyn ei fabwysiadu’n ffurfiol.

Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Davies: “Mae’r sawl sy’n gadael gofal y gofalwyd amdanynt gan yr Awdurdod Lleol ymysg y grwpiau mwyaf agored i niwed yn ein cymuned. Fel rhan o’n rôl rhianta corfforaethol, credwn y dylai Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin geisio cadw pobl ifanc yn ddiogel a gwella eu cyfleoedd bywyd. Mae gennym ddyletswydd i’r sawl sy’n gadael gofal.

“Rydym yn credu bod cyfrifoldeb arnom i sicrhau, pan fydd pobl ifanc yn symud o ofal i fywyd fel oedolyn, fod y broses mor esmwyth â phosibl ac i wneud popeth a allwn i liniaru’r newidiadau sydd yn aml yn arwain at broblemau dyled i’r sawl sy’n gadael gofal wrth iddynt ddechrau rheoli eu harian eu hunain.”

Dywedodd Arweinydd yr Wrthblaid sef y Grŵp Llafur: “Rwyf yn croesawu’r cynnig hwn. Yn sicr mae’n tynnu sylw at bwysigrwydd ein bod yn cydnabod yr anawsterau a wynebir gan yr holl blant a phobl ifanc yn ein cymunedau. Gobeithiaf mai ond megis dechrau yw hyn.”

Adroddodd Comisiynydd Plant Cymru yn ddiweddar fod llawer o’r rheiny sy’n gadael gofal yn gorfod goroesi ar gyn lleied ag £8 y dydd, gyda’r dreth gyngor yn cyfrif am y gost fwyaf sydd ganddynt i’w thalu ar ôl rhent.

Y llynedd gadawodd 77 o bobl ifanc (16 oed neu’n hŷn) ofal Cyngor Sir Caerfyrddin a dechrau ar y daith o symud o ofal i fywyd fel oedolion.

Caiff pobl ifanc sy’n gadael gofal eu diffinio fel pobl ifanc sydd â hawl i gael cymorth os ydynt wedi bod yn derbyn gofal am o leiaf 13 wythnos ers eu bod yn 14 oed, a’u bod mewn gofal ar eu pen-blwydd yn 16 oed.

Gall pobl sy’n methu â thalu eu bil treth gyngor eu cael eu hunain yn wynebu camau adennill a gorfodi, er y gall awdurdodau lleol helpu mewn achosion profedig o galedi trwy arfer polisïau dewisol.