A report by the Interim Director of Children’s Services requested the Cabinet’s approval to seek tenders to refurbish and remodel Rosclare House to provide a high quality children’s short break facility. The scheme would promote the Council’s Corporate Priority to improve the health and well being for all and help children and young people to reach their full potential. Financial savings would be realised by reducing the departments’ residential accommodation, realigning staff teams across the short break residential service and by creating a facility that would offer flexibility to accommodate several groups of children with various disabilities at any one time, thus maximising the levels of occupation.

Whilst there was no statutory duty associated with the decision, the Governments’ Aiming Higher for Disabled Children programme required the Authority to provide a short break service for carers of disabled children. This scheme formed part of the Children and Young Peoples Department’s capital programme and would be funded from existing resource allocations.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)  the scheme and estimate, as presented be accepted;

(2)  Studio Three on behalf of the Children and Young Peoples Department be authorised to obtain all necessary statutory approvals for the project;

(3)  Studio Three on behalf of Children and Young Peoples Department be authorised to seek tenders for the project; and

(4)  the Interim Director of Children’s Services be requested to use his delegated powers to accept the lowest bona-fide tender and report his acceptance of the tender to the Cabinet in due course in accordance with the Council’s procurement policy.