Norfolk council withdraws from controversial care homes sale

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 11:02 · Archive

Norfolk County Council has withdrawn from a proposed sale of 20 council-owned care homes to private healthcare company Stow Healthcare Group. The authority, now led by Reform, pulled out of the deal that had been agreed 'in-principle' by Conservative leaders in January, though it had not yet been formally signed.

Reform leaders said they had decided the sale was not in the best interests of the people living in the homes or Norfolk taxpayers. Nick Taylor, the council's cabinet member for commercial assets and revenue generation, said: 'When we took office, we committed to a careful and considered review of this proposed sale, and we have done just that.' Staff and residents were informed of the decision on the morning it was announced.

When the Conservative-led council agreed to the sale, it had said the deal would enable fresh investment into the homes while residents and staff would remain under new ownership. Stow Healthcare Group is based in Bury St Edmunds but is owned by United States-based CGEN Care Group. The withdrawal leaves uncertainty over the future of the homes, which are spread across Norfolk, and Norse Care, which operates them.

Norfolk council withdraws from controversial care homes sale — Image: BBC Norfolk

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How it is being reported

Major council care home sell-off scrapped by ReformA review of the proposed sale of 20 care homes finds it is no longer the "best deal".BBC Norfolk · 13 Oct, 12:17
Controversial sale of 20 Norfolk care homes is OFF after council withdraws from dealThe sale of 20 council-owned Norfolk care homes to a private healthcare company is off, after council leaders pulled the plug on the controversial deal.Norwich Evening News · 13 Oct, 10:40
Controversial sale of 20 Norfolk care homes is OFF after council withdraws from dealThe sale of 20 council-owned Norfolk care homes to a private healthcare company is off, after council leaders pulled the plug on the controversial deal.Eastern Daily Press · 13 Oct, 10:40

In this story: Norfolk County Council · Stow Healthcare Group · CGEN Care Group · Norse Care · Norfolk · Bury St Edmunds

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