Issue details

Remodelling of High Trees and Teasel Close children's homes, Crawley

Teasel Close children’s home in Crawley provides residential placements, with capacity for up to 5 children at one time. High Trees children’s home in Crawley provides residential placements and short breaks for children with disabilities, with capacity for up to 4 children at one time. Both homes are graded as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

 

These homes are identified for improvement works as part of phase 2 of the children’s in-house residential strategy, for which a total of £5.2m pipeline funding is currently allocated in the capital programme. Remodelling and refurbishment works are required to resolve critical issues with the sites, modernise the homes and improve the facilities for those children resident at the homes. As designs have developed for the homes, additional work has been identified, detailed in this report, which has led to an increase in projected costs above the original allocation for phase 2.

 

The key driver of increased costs is the provision of temporary accommodation, as these homes are occupied. Work is therefore required to a further County Council owned property to provide temporary accommodation for the children at Teasel Close and High Trees to reside in for the duration of the refurbishment of both homes.

 

Decision type: Key

Reason Key: Expenditure > £500,000;

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Divisions affected: Broadfield; Langley Green & Ifield East;

Notice of proposed decision first published: 19/08/2021

Decision due: October 2021 by Cabinet Member for Children and Young People (Cllr Jacquie Russell)

Lead member: Councillor Jacquie Russell jacquie.russell@westsussex.gov.uk

Contact: Thomas Strivens, Programme Manager Email: thomas.strivens@westsussex.gov.uk Tel: 033 022 22082.

Consultation process

Representations concerning this proposed decision can be made to the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People via the officer contact, by the beginning of the month in which the decision is due to be taken.

Consultees

Procurement

Legal

Finance

Property and Assets

Cabinet Member for Finance and Property

Democratic Services Contact: Wendy Saunders Tel: 033 022 22553

Decisions

Background papers