FURTHER work is to be done to see how care leavers in Basingstoke and Deane can be supported.

At an economic planning housing committee meeting held on Thursday, 6 September, councillors discussed how best to support a young person when they are leaving care and entering adulthood.

This followed a motion which was initially tabled at a full council meeting by Brookvale and Kings Furlong ward councillor Mike Westbrook, which called on Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to start looking at providing council tax support to those who are leaving care.

Two options were put before councillors, one being a tapered relief scheme where the cost of council tax would reduce from £12,500 to £10,700 per year based upon people’s ages.

The other would see a property of multiply occupancy getting a further 25 per cent discount.

At the meeting councillors raised concerns about the tapered option.

Leader of the Basingstoke Labour group, Councillor Paul Harvey said: “We have a number of young people who are leaving the support they get from HCC [Hampshire County Council] and we have evidence where they are not be able to sustain that independent living.

“We require an understanding of their needs and they need an advisor working with the borough to explore a relationship beyond this paper.

“We need to work on the wider agenda of supporting these young people.”

Eastrop ward councillor Stuart Park said that the tapering scheme is “not favourable”.

He said: “The idea of this motion is it comes under assistance. With the tapering scheme it does not proved that assistance.

“I do not agree with the tapering scheme.”

However, Kingsclere ward councillor Ken Rhatigan said: “This should be a hand up to young people not a handout.”