The refurbishment of an Oxford children's home is many months behind schedule and will cost £127,000 more than first thought.o Last April, Oxfordshire County Council agreed to refurbish Maltfield House, a children's home in Marston, as part of its 'placement matters' strategy to improve the conditions in which children in care live.

It was estimated the work would cost £100,000.

However, county councillors are only tomorrow set to formally resolve that work should start and have calculated it will cost £227,000.

The idea is to refurbish Maltfield House and use it as a home for teenage girls currently housed at another county council-run facility, Holme Leigh, in Banbury Road, Oxford, which would then be sold.

But the delay has angered an opposition councillor.

Liberal Democrat county councillor and 'fostering champion' Jean Fooks said: "Although it was all agreed, suddenly it's coming to cabinet and we need £227,000 for the refurbishment much more than expected and the sale of Holme Leigh is only being approved now.

"Everything has been held up, vulnerable children and staff are being kept in suspense.

"Why didn't the council get on with the work and why didn't the council get the estimate right?"

Ultimately County Hall wants to place more vulnerable children with suitable foster parents, but a chronic shortage is hampering its efforts.

Earlier this year the Oxford Mail revealed how a dearth of registered foster parents in Oxfordshire meant vulnerable children in the care of social services were being sent to homes outside the county at a cost of £5.2m a year.

The cost is so high partly because some children require specialist care, which is unavailable in Oxford- shire. Currently, 52 children are in care outside Oxfordshire, 12 of whom could be looked after in the county if there were suitable homes.

In the past year, the council has recruited 50 new foster carers but about the same number have left, prompting the authority's head of early years and family support, Andy Couldrick, to concede that attracting new foster parents was a "constant challenge".

Oxfordshire county councillor Louise Chapman, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: "It has taken longer than anticipated to secure funding for the refurbishment of Maltfield. This has resulted in the delay of the project.

"While the refurbishment is clearly important, the temporary delay has not prejudiced the service provided for young people at Holme Leigh.

"As far as the difference in costs is concerned the amount identified in placement matters was never more than a very rough estimate.

"The current estimate is more accurate and reflects the work necessary to ensure it fulfils the strict regulatory requirements for children's homes. Staff and young people have been kept fully informed about the progress of this project."