Purpose

SUMMARY OF REPORT

This report seeks approval to refurbish and convert one of the properties situated at 117 -119 Brecknock Road, Kentish Town, London N19 5AH (“Montpelier House”) owned by London Borough of Camden (LBC) and currently held in the general fund, into a four bed children’s home with a possible fifth bed for emergency accommodation for very short periods where children require a place to stay temporarily pending moving to an appropriate placement. The building, previously used for educational purposes, has been vacant since July 2015 and is one of three new properties identified to expand the LBC in-borough children’s home capacity.

This proposal is part of the LBC’s ‘Place to Call Home: Supporting People Connecting Communities Accommodation Plan’ and contributes to delivery of the Placements Sufficiency plan. This plan includes proposals to develop additional in-borough children’s home capacity for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.  LBC currently has one fully operational eight-bedded commissioned children’s home (Joseph House). The Department for Education (DfE) has recently approved funding for a 4 bedded Children’s home for children with complex needs including those who are on a Deprivation of Liberty Standards (DoLs) and LBC has recently acquired a private residential property to create a further 4 bedded Children’s home at 17 Skardu Road. This proposal will create a 4 bedded children’s home with an additional emergency unit for a short-term stay. These 3 new properties will deliver another thirteen beds including the emergency bed, increasing the total number of children’s homes in LBC to 4, with 21 beds - thereby reducing the need for costly spot commissioning and the pressure on the Children’s Placement Budget. There are currently 33 children in private residential care, with an age range of 6 to 18 years old.

As per the Cabinet report of February 2025 entitled 2025/26 Revenue Estimates and Council Tax Setting (CS/2025/04) (Cabinet Report), Cabinet approved £11.1m in capital funding for the acquisition and refurbishment of children’s homes and supported accommodation. Of this, £5.1m is allocated to acquiring and refurbishing two children’s homes – 17 Skardu Road and Montpelier House - with the aim of reducing pressures on the children’s placements budget, which closed 2024/25 with a £10.131m overspend.

This proposal links closely to our We Make Camden ambition that LBC is a borough where every child has the best start in life and that everyone has a place that they can call home.  

Decision

That the Executive Director Corporate Services, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Best Start for Children and Families, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Cost of Living, and the Borough Solicitor, is asked to:

1. Approve the use of one property identified as Montpelier House, identified in the council’s disposal list for use as a Children’s home.
2. Agree that the revenue budget estimate of £1,188,639 for staff salary and building operational costs for Brecknock/Montpelier House to be managed within the overall Placement budget as part of Medium-Term Financial Strategy planning.
3. Approve the capital costs arising from the change of use and refurbishment of the property (Brecknock/Montpelier House) into a Children’s Home at a proposed total cost of £1,550,000.