Orchard House children’s home in Cuckfield is part of the County Council’s Residential Service and caters for residential placements and short breaks for children with disabilities, with capacity for up to 16 children at one time. The home consists of;
• The Main Building, separated into 2 wings,
• Orchard Lodge, a stand-alone building on the premises, and
• The home’s Contact Centre, where supervised contact takes place between children and families
As part of phase 2 of the improvement programme to deliver the Residential Service Strategy approved by the Cabinet Member decision in October 2019 (CYP03(19.20)), remodelling and refurbishment works are required to resolve critical issues with the home, modernise the home and improve the facilities for those children resident at the home and those who undertake short breaks there.
Capital funding totalling £4.183m has so far been allocated to deliver this project, through a Cabinet Member key decision in March 2021 (CYP04(20/21)). Subsequently, an additional £745k of work has been identified, the majority of which is to deliver additional work which will help this project better meet the aims of the Council’s Climate Change Strategy and the commitment to be a net carbon zero organisation by 2030.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure > £500,000;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Divisions affected: Cuckfield & Lucastes;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 11/10/2021
Decision due: December 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 andYoung People, via the officer contact, by the beginning of the month in which the decision is due to be taken.
Consultees
Finance
Legal
Procurement
Property and Assets
Sustainability
Cabinet Member for Finance and Property
Democratic Services Contact: Wendy Saunders Tel: 033 022 22553