Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a joint report of the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services and Corporate Director of Regeneration and Economic Growth to expedite the acquisition process and enable fair competition with other buyers when purchasing properties for use as children’s homes and to increase the delegated authority to Officers for acquisition of property for use as children’s homes (for copy of report see file of minutes).

In Moving the report, Councillor T Henderson, Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People’s Services informed Cabinet that Durham, like all council’s, was challenged by the lack of suitable homes for children in care.  The acquisition of property for use as Children’s Homes would help the Council to meet increasing demand for service.

In Seconding the report Councillor J Rowlandson, Portfolio Holder for Resources, Investments and Assets welcomed the work across different Services to seek to improve the way new Children’s Homes were progressed and shorten timescales where this was feasible.

Resolved:

That the recommendations in the report be approved.

Councillor A Hopgood, Leader of the Council vacated the Chair and left the meeting.

Councillor R Bell in the Chair