Understand
Reform-led Norfolk County Council pulls plans to sell 20 care homes
Overview
Norfolk County Council has withdrawn controversial plans to sell 20 local authority care homes and the company that runs them, Norse Care, after a review concluded the deal was not in the council's best interests. The proposal had been initiated under the previous Conservative administration to sell the services to Stow Healthcare, but the current Reform UK-led council decided to scrap the sale and explore alternative, locally focused solutions.
Key points
- Norfolk County Council has cancelled plans to sell 20 care homes and operator Norse Care.
- A review by the Reform UK-led council concluded the sale was not the best deal on the table.
- Norse Care will continue to manage the council's care services normally while alternative solutions are considered.
- The previous Conservative administration had originally planned the sale to Stow Healthcare.
- Former Conservative leader Kay Mason Billig criticised the decision, claiming the council is losing millions running the homes, while opposition groups welcomed the U-turn but called for investment and secure futures for the facilities.