Decision details

The Cabinet Member considered a report on the acquisition of three residential properties for the Children and Families Service.

The Children and Families Service required three detached properties to provide residential accommodation for cared for young people from the ages of 11 to 17 in Congleton and Macclesfield.   There were currently no facilities available in the north of the Borough.  The properties were required to provide a traditional domestic environment for young people, moving away from an institutionalised setting.  As of April 2012 Wilkinson House in Sandbach would close and the children currently residing in the property would need to be accommodated elsewhere.

The Children and Family Service currently held a budget of £1,150,000 and was seeking an additional £350,000 via a supplementary capital estimate bid at mid-year for the acquisition of the properties.  The Service intended to tender the management and running of the three homes to an external provider on a three to five year contract, within the properties leased to the successful provider for the same term.

Councillor D Neilson, Chairman of the Scrutiny Review of Residential Provision in Cheshire East, had submitted comments to the Cabinet Member in support of the acquisition of the three properties.

RESOLVED:

That the acquisition of three properties be approved on terms and conditions to be determined by the Borough Solicitor, Assets Manager and the Head of Safeguarding & Specialist Services.