Purpose

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.
 
Remodelling and refurbishment
works are being carried out to modernise the existing home and
improve the facilities for those children resident at the home and
those who undertake short breaks there.
 
Capital funding totalling
£5.576m has so far been allocated to deliver this project,
through Cabinet Member Key Decisions in March 2021
CYP04(20/21), in December 2021
CYP04 (21/22) and in October 2022
CYP02 (22/23).
 
The modernisation works are
progressing but, due to unforeseen issues identified during the
remodelling of the existing buildings, the budget for the project
has increased and the allocation of additional funding is now
required to enable the project to continue and conclude.

Decision

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young
People, Learning and Skills has approved the allocation of
£0.652m of additional capital funding to ensure the
remodelling project at Orchard House Children’s Home can be
completed.