KIRKLEES Council plans to increase benefit payments for friends and relatives acting as foster carers.

The council is carrying out a review of all allowances it pays to foster carers.

A report is expected to reach the council's Cabinet very soon and changes to payments could be brought in during this year's budget.

Until the revised payments are introduced, the council is proposing a £70,000 scheme of increased "interim" payments for friends and family who act as foster carers.

The increased interim payments mean between £25 and £40 extra a week.

They will go to around 20 carers and will be backdated to the start of this financial year in April.

Family and friends are currently paid a lower rate by the council than professional ``stranger" carers.

But a ruling against Kirklees by the High Court in London last year means payments must be made equal.

The ruling was made after Huddersfield solicitors Ridley and Hall brought an action on behalf of foster carers on the lower payment rate.

The court's decision was guided by an 2001 ruling, known as the Manchester Judgement, which said family foster carers should get the same rate as professionals.

Nigel Priestley, senior partner at Ridley and Hall, said the council's interim payments were a step in the right direction, but not enough.

He said professionals were still enjoying extra ``reward" payments and allowances for clothing which family carers did not receive.

He also said all allowance paid by Kirklees were well below those recommended by the campaigning charity the Fostering Network.

He said: "Kirklees will not staunch the flow of actions against them with this step.

"We have several actions in the pipeline. It is a step in the right direction, but it does not go far enough.

"Carers give up a lot to care for a child. That changes their whole life," added Mr Priestley.

Phil Tomlinson, Kirklees' divisional manager for children and families, said a range of options was being considered in the review of fostering allowances.

He said one option was to pay the extra allowances enjoyed by professional carers to family and friends.

However, he said, the current cash available meant it would be difficult to meet the level of payments suggested by the Fostering Network.

Mr Tomlinson added: "Only 35% of councils in the country pay the recommended rates. It would be very expensive. You have to consider your financial resources.

"We are completely revising foster care allowances and looking at a number of options. There are no final decisions yet. We want to ensure children get the best deal."