Help these families

Sep 11 2010 by simon halewood, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

IT is high time Kirklees Council sorted out the problems created when foster parents lost out on thousands of pounds of cash.

Seven months have now passed since the council lost a court ruling that it was unlawful to pay long-term foster parents a Special Guardianship Order rather than the Fostering Allowance.

The guardianship payment was 25% less than the allowance and there was also a knock-on effect with smaller supplemental payments at Christmas and birthdays.

One man is owed around £10,000 and has suffered hardship during the year. He had planned to take his family on a holiday, but that has not happened after Kirklees delayed discussing the issue at its finance committee again and again.

The man quite rightly points out that when he received a parking ticket he was given a short time to pay the fine or it would cost him far more.

It’s a shame the same vigorous policy does not exist when it comes to repaying money the council owes to some of the most cash-strapped families in the area.

A court has made a judgement and it is only right and proper for people to expect the council to pull out all the stops to right a wrong.

‘Every child matters’ was a Labour Government slogan and surely no-one can argue that this should still be rigorously pursued.

No doubt all politicians would be eager to stress they are committed to doing all they can to help, support and encourage the next generation.

Well they can do something about it now and that’s by sorting out these back payments as a matter of top priority.

After all, it was Kirklees Council who got it wrong in the first place.

Now it is the council’s duty to put it right ... and as quickly as possible.