Last-ditch meeting over future for Kingswinford care home
Campaigners will make a last ditch plea to councillors to rethink plans to transfer ownership of a Kingswinford care home during a meeting tonight.
Dudley Council has revealed proposals to keep New Bradley Hall care home open but only if it is operated by a third party.
Officials are considering tenders from up to 13 not-for-profit organisations such as charities or social enterprises to deliver care services at the home.
But campaigners say the future of the home, in Compton Drive, would be more secure if it remained under council control.
Around 40 staff work from New Bradley Hall which has around 30 elderly residents.
Original proposals were finalised in 2011 for the closure of the home alongside New Bridge House in Coseley and New Swinford Hall in Stourbridge by this year.
But a public outcry followed with around 5,000 signatures collected by New Bradley's residents and relatives to protest against the plans.
Councillors backed down and drew up new proposals which involve keeping the home open but transferring control to the new orgainsation later this year.
The adult, community and housing services scrutiny committee will discuss the proposals at a meeting at Dudley Council House from 6.30pm.
Campaigner Mac Scott MBC said: "We think that it is great pity as we wanted New Bradley to remain as a council-run care home.
"This is what the people wanted and was evident during the consultation."
Group members will be attending the meeting tonight to take part in proceedings.
Adult services boss, Councillor Dave Branwood, had agreed to have the decision scrutised by councillors further to allay the concerns.
He added: "We have made this process as open and as transparent as we possibly can to ensure that people can see how this develops.
"Our aim from the very start has been to keep this home open and to put the needs of the people in New Bradley Hall first.
"I welcome the opportunity to scrutinise the next steps and how things will be in the future."
Under the proposals, existing residents will be able to remain at the home and permanent staff will have the opportunity to continue working at New Bradley Hall through the new organisation.
Council bosses say they have also met regularly with the families of the residents at the home and other interested parties to keep them up to date.
