Children's hub benefits not clear, says scrutiny

Plans for a central Children's Services Hub do not represent the "best use of public money", according to a scrutiny committee.

The Health and Social Care Department (HSC) wants to bring the services teams from five separate locations to a refurbished Raymond Falla House in St Martins at a cost of up to £22m.

HSC President George Oswald said the current sites have not been not fit for purpose for "some time".

In a letter, scrutiny lead Andy Sloan said he accepted better accommodation was a "legitimate objective" but even a "desirable project still requires a demonstrable business case" and there were questions about whether "realistic, less costly alternatives" had been considered.

Sloan, the President of the Scrutiny Management Committee, said: "The policy letter refers to evidence of poor accessibility and unsuitable accommodation. The committee understands that these are legitimate concerns requiring action.

"They do not, however, demonstrate that the full hub is the necessary or most proportionate response."

HSC is asking for £22m from the Policy and Resources Committee, while the estimated total cost is £17.1m.

Sloan said the extra £5m asked for by HSC required "clear justification".

"The existing estimate already includes allowances for inflation, risk and optimism bias," Sloan said.

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