Pledge on affordable homes in Torbay

Young people 'at the forefront' of strategy

Torbay Council has pledged to do all it can to help young people leaving the care system to find homes in the bay.

Members of the cabinet committee have ‘adopted’ their strategy for ‘corporate parenting’, where the council itself assumes to role of the parent.

Councillors stressed the need for love and support, and said it is paramount to hear the voices of the children involved and make sure services meet their needs.

Cllr Nick Bye (Con, Wellswood) said he is proud to be the council’s lead member for children’s services, and pointed out that the council’s work as corporate parents had been praised by Ofsted.

“It’s all about listening to the voice of the cared-for child,” he said.

And Cllr Steve Darling (Lib Dem, Barton with Watcombe) added: “We should see them as our own children, and they should always be in the upper part of our minds.”

Cllr Darling said there was a need for affordable housing for care-leavers, and he questioned the commitment of the council’s Conservative administration to provide it.

Cllr Bye replied: “It’s about delivery, and I am absolutely passionate that we need progress on the delivery of housing for care-experienced young people.

“It is absolutely crucial that young people, as they leave the care system, have opportunities to live good, independent lives.”

Cabinet members also discussed a campaign to increase the number of foster families in the bay.  They heard that numbers had been hit by the cost-of-living crisis, and the number of adult children returning to live at home as a result.

Cllr Bye said that Brixham was ‘pulling above its weight’ when it came to fostering, saying it could be down to the town’s strong sense of community.