Councils look set for another hefty pay bill after the High Court ruled in favour of a grandmother providing foster care to her granddaughter.

The High Court ruled Kent CC social services must pay the woman £146 each week, instead of the existing sum of £63. The court accepted the council would have had to pay that rate as the 15-year-old child involved would have ended up in foster care, had she not offered the placement.

Nigel Priestley, representing the family, said: ‘This has implications for many children in Kent who are placed with relatives.
‘Many carers will be losing out.'