NORTH Ayrshire Council are hoping to be to be the first in Scotland to exempt young people who have been in care from the Council Tax.

Scottish Councils do not currently have the power to introduce such Council Tax exemptions, however, the ruling Labour group are calling on the Scottish Government to give them the delegated powers.

To allow them to do so the Scottish Government would have to amend the Local Government Finance Act 1992 or implement new Council Tax exemption regulations.

Council leader and finance portfolio holder, Joe Cullinane said: “One of the most important roles that councillors hold is as a corporate parent to our young people in care.

“This is a group of young people with talent, skills and ambitions just like their peers. However, we know of the many challenges they face in being able to fulfil their potential.

“Our Labour administration have taken steps to put care experienced young people at the heart of what we do but we can go further. There are significant financial pressures on young people leaving care including Council Tax and one way we could help financially would be to exempt them from that.

“Scottish Councils do not currently have the powers to implement such an exemption. We would like to explore that option with a view to becoming the first Scottish council to deliver a Council Tax exemption for our care experienced young people and we are therefore calling on the Scottish Government to give us the necessary powers to do so.”

Irvine South Councillor Robert Foster, who worked with care experienced young people before his election and is Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care added: “I have saw first-hand how great care experienced young people are but also the very real challenges that they face.

“These are young people who have been let down by the very people who are meant to be there to look after them. They have aspirations and ideas like us all and they know what is best for them.”

“I hope the full council, and indeed the Scottish Government, will support us.”

The Labour group will table the motion at the next council meeting on October 4 asking the full council to back their call.