plications by local authority foster carers 8.53. It should not normally arise that a local authority foster carer gives formal notice of intention to apply to adopt without this issue having previously been discussed with the local authority. If the issue is raised, the local authority must give it serious consideration and, in its role as an adoption agency, ensure that the foster carer is offered information and counselling, where the agency considers it necessary under AAR 24. If adoption is already the plan for the child, and the local authority considers that the foster carer may be suitable to be approved as an adoptive parent, the foster carer can be assessed using the fast-track procedure. It is not usually appropriate to leave it to the foster carer to make a ‘non-agency’ adoption application. There will be cases where the local authority is clear that it considers it inappropriate to pursue the foster carer’s interest in adopting the child. In such a case, it must respond promptly to the foster carer explaining the reasons for its views, and ensure that the carer has access to their own independent legal advice. See, for example, the case of Re A, TL v Coventry City Council [2007] EWCA Civ 1383. A failure to take the foster carer’s representations seriously may lead to a risk of delay to a placement with other prospective adopters when they are identified. 8.54. If a foster carer gives notice of intention to apply to adopt a child whom the local authority is not authorised to place for adoption, it will be necessary immediately to consider the plan for the child and to ascertain the child’s and birth parent’s wishes and feelings. If the local authority considers that adoption may be appropriate, it will need to follow the procedure set out in Part 2 of the AA