Decision details

The County Council has a statutory duty to provide meaningful contact between children we care for (CWCF) and those in care proceedings with family and other people important to them. The Council’s Family Time Contact Service (FTCS) meets this requirement through family time sessions from a number of locations across the county, including one in Crawley. The property used in Crawley has been identified as the best option to provide temporary accommodation for children living in two of the Council’s children’s homes – Teasel and High Trees – whilst refurbishment of these homes is underway. An alternative location for FTCS in the Crawley area has been identified at the former West Green Youth Centre.

In October 2021 the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People approved the launch of a procurement process to refurbish Teasel and High Trees Children’s Homes (decision CYP02 (21/22) refers). However, it is now proposed to procure the work to these 2 homes together with the work to West Green and the work on the temporary accommodation at the current FTCS hub in Crawley under a single contract. This should mitigate the risks of multiple contractors involved in 4 interdependent projects. An allocation of £1m for the relocation of FTCS in Crawley was made in the capital programme budget approved by Full Council in February 2022. £121k has already been approved to deliver the design stage. The total project cost for West Green is estimated at £888k, and the remaining funds are now requested.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People has:-

(1)Approved the allocation of £767k from the capital programme allocation towards the work required to repurpose West Green Youth Centre.

(2)Approved the commencement of a procurement process for a contractor to deliver the work to repurpose West Green Youth Centre, as well as work to prepare the temporary residential accommodation using the current Family Time Contact Service site and the refurbishment of Teasel and High Trees Children’s Homes.

(3)Delegated authority to the Director of Children, Young People and Learning, in consultation with the Assistant Director (Property and Assets), to award the contract for the works required to these 4 properties.

None