Council Tax and business rates phone lines

The telephone service for Council Tax and business rates is currently unavailable. You can still contact us online to tell us of any changes in circumstances, make a payment arrangement or make a payment. Our telephone service will resume on Thursday 19 September.

Our pledge to care leavers

Respect and honour your identity

We will treat you like adults, respect your privacy and work with the unique potential of everybody. We will treat you with respect and dignity and encourage you to lead a healthy lifestyle

To believe in you

We actively celebrate your achievements and will at all times have the very highest of aspirations for you in whatever it is you want to do. We will ensure that you have access to good advice and guidance in order that you are able to make well-informed decisions about your future.

To listen to you

We will be available to listen to you. We will continue to explore ways by which we can provide support in addition to the out of hours service. We will make sure that the plans we make with you have your views, wishes and aims at the forefront. Through the Care Leavers forum and consultations, we will take your views on board to improve our service to you.

To inform you

We will help you to understand and be informed of your rights and entitlements. We will provide you with an entitlements booklet when you reach 16 years of age that will provide
you with the information you need as you make the transition to adulthood, such as support with travel costs for example. We will run a duty system so that you are able to call in for advice or give
us a call and inform you of opportunities available to you.

To support you

We will allocate a personal adviser to you when you are 16. Your personal adviser will support you with regard to all the life skills you will need. We will help you to make the best of your educational opportunities and be informed of your choices.

To find you a home

We will continue to offer you advice and support to ensure you have secure and safe accommodation. We will be clear about accommodation options available to you and inform you of your choices. We will provide support for you to ensure that you make the most successful move into your first home.

To be a lifelong champion

We will ensure that you are able to return to us for advice and support even if our formal relationship has ended with you. We will help to signpost you to the other services available to support you, work in partnership with them to make sure that we enable you to succeed.