Decision

1. Approved the Scheme and Estimate for the remodelling of an existing property in Hardy Road, Blackheath & Westcombe ward, into a long?stay Children’s Home, with a proposed total budget envelope of £0.85m.
2. Noted that £0.75m of this funding was approved on 11 April 2025 as part of the Medium-Term Financial Strategy through the Pre?Consultation Report and Decision Report: Development of a new Children’s Home.
3. Noted that the additional £0.10m required to complete the overall £0.85m budget envelope was approved at the Council Special Meeting on 26th February 2026, as part of the wider £2.3m Treasury Management and Capital Strategy for 2026/27.
4. Noted that in accordance with the Council’s Scheme of Delegation, approval of a scheme and estimate report with a value between £100k and £20 million is vested in the Cabinet Lead Member for the relevant service area.  As this report concerns a capital project being delivered by Place and Growth, the decision is to be made by the Cabinet Member for Planning and Development.
5. Noted that a building contract for the scheme has not yet been tendered and the detailed design work is to be finalised. Whilst there is a risk allowance built into the budget to cater for this, due to the stage the project is at it is difficult to accurately predict the project costs.
6. Authorised the Director of Place & Growth, in consultation with the Director of Children’s Services, to vary the scheme details as necessary in accordance with any future identified priorities in line with the Council’s scheme of delegation and within the agreed budget.