The Executive Decision meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 18 March 2026, was set to consider a contract variation for the construction of a High Needs Centre and Family Resilience Centre. This meeting was not open to the public.

Contract Variation for High Needs Centre & Family Resilience Centre

The primary item scheduled for discussion was a contract variation concerning the construction of the High Needs Centre and Family Resilience Centre located at 23-25 North Birkbeck Road, E11 4JF. This variation would increase the overall contract value by £1,075,852, bringing the total to £8,505,883. The report pack indicated that this variation was necessary due to risks and issues that emerged during the design and construction phases, rather than a change in the project's scope. The report stated that the budget for this additional expenditure is available and has been allocated within the Schools' Capital Programme.

The report pack included a recommendation for the Portfolio Lead Member for Housing and Regeneration, Councillor Ahsan Khan (Deputy Leader (Housing and Regeneration)), to approve this variation. The original contract award was made in March 2022 to The McAvoy Group for £7,063,361. Following market conditions exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, an uplift due to inflation in materials and labour led to a revised contract value of £7,430,030.57 before the contract was entered into in November 2022.

Further issues during construction, including changes to foundation design due to ground conditions and the switch from gas heating to electrically powered air source heat pumps necessitating a new electrical substation, contributed to the increased costs. Commercial negotiations regarding a contractor delay claim also impacted the final account. Expert technical advice was sought to assist in these negotiations, which reportedly led to a significant reduction in the contractor's claim. A previous variation report in October 2025 had already uplifted the contract sum by £294,823 to cover the latest valuation. The report indicated that the additional expenditure, including professional fees, is managed within the overall Schools' Capital Programme project budget of £10,600,000.

The report pack noted that the Council has a statutory obligation under Section 19(1) of the Education Act 1996 to provide suitable full-time education for permanently excluded pupils and other children who would not receive it otherwise. The co-location of the Youth Offending Service with the High Needs Centre was highlighted as supporting the council's mission to Ensure every family and every child are given every opportunity. Consultation with Finance, Supply Chain, and Legal Services confirmed the availability of funds and compliance with contract procedures. The report also referenced Section 39(1) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which requires cooperation to form a Youth Offending Team. The Council's power under Section 1 of the Localism Act 2011 was also cited as enabling such contract lettings.

The report stated that there were no additional equalities or diversity implications beyond those identified in a previous Executive Decision on 10 March 2022, and that the completed facility is fully accessible. Similarly, no additional sustainability or council infrastructure implications were noted beyond those previously identified. The report pack also confirmed that the procurement process and the proposed contract variation conform to the Council's Contract Procedure Rules and public procurement rules. It was also noted that the Council received only a single tender for the scheme, mitigating the risk of challenges from unsuccessful tenderers.