Lib Dems oppose move of Residential Care Homes to the Private Sector

4.15.52pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 16th Nov 2006

Liberal Democrats are opposing the move to tender the management of the County Council's remaining ten residential care homes to the private sector.

"We are opposing this because at the moment we have not seen enough evidence to justify this" says Lib Dem Cllr. David Garlick (Headlands)

"The eight residential care homes that were previously transferred to private sector management have not been running long enough under the new arrangements for us to be able to see as to whether the new management is providing any improvements to the residents of the homes, or the projected saving to the Council."

"The consultation with the residents of the ten homes which the Conservatives now want to put out to private management shows that residents are very happy with the present arrangements and don't want any changes. However despite this the Conservative Cabinet still voted to seek tenders from the private sector."

It is intended to find an "approved partner" to run the homes by June 2007 with a view to transferring the homes management by the following May 2008.