The Cabinet Member Signing meeting on Thursday 12 March 2026 was scheduled to discuss the proposed relocation of the Young Adult Services team. The meeting's agenda also included standard procedural items such as filming at meetings, apologies for absence, declarations of interest, urgent business, and deputations, petitions, or questions.

Relocation of Young Adults Services from 48 Station Road

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the proposed relocation of the Young Adult Services team from its current location at 48 Station Road to the ground floor of the Clarendon Road College building N8. This move is part of the council's broader strategy to decommission and vacate several buildings, including River Park House, Alexandra House, and 48 Station Road, by the end of 2026. The report pack indicated that the relocation aims to achieve cost efficiencies by vacating operationally expensive buildings, maximise operational efficiency through a centralised location, sustainably re-purpose existing spaces, and contribute to the council's decarbonisation commitments.

The report pack outlined that the Young Adult Services team, which supports care leavers and unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, currently comprises 60 staff members. The proposal involves reconfiguring the ground floor of the Clarendon Road College building to accommodate these staff and clients, with the first floor designated for the Parking and Civil Enforcement team.

The report pack recommended approving the procurement and tender of works for this relocation. The estimated refurbishment budget for the Young Adult Services team's new accommodation is £1,200,000, to be funded from the approved General Fund capital programme. The report also detailed alternative options considered, including maintaining operations at 48 Station Road (deemed too costly and detrimental to the Shaping Wood Green Strategy) and exploring 10 Bruce Grove (discounted due to significant structural repair costs).

The relocation is intended to align with the council's Accommodation Strategy and the Wood Green Central Programme, which aims to regenerate the area. The report pack highlighted that vacating 48 Station Road would also contribute to the council's commitment to decarbonise and create cleaner neighbourhoods, as outlined in the Corporate Delivery Plan.

The report pack included comments from statutory officers, including Finance, Procurement, and Legal & Governance. The Finance comments confirmed the capital cost estimate of £1.2m and its funding source. The Legal comments noted that procurement must comply with the Council's Contract Standing Orders and the Procurement Act 2023. Planning feedback indicated that the Clarendon Road College site is allocated in the draft Local Plan, and engagement with adjacent landowners was advised. An Equalities Impact Assessment was deemed not required.

The report pack also contained a detailed Full Business Case, outlining the project's strategic, economic, financial, commercial, and management cases. It included a milestone programme for the procurement and works, estimated to take approximately 11 months. The business case emphasised the financial benefits of vacating 48 Station Road, citing significant operational expenditure on utilities and business rates for the current site. It also noted the non-monetary benefits of improved operational efficiency and accessibility for the Young Adult Services team and its clients.