Decision to close the Elms care home in Stonehouse 'called in'

Gloucestershire County Council leaders agreed recently to close the council-owned care homes currently being run by the Orders of St John Care Trust.

The homes affected are The Elms in Stonehouse, Bohanam House in Gloucester, Orchard House in Bishop’s Cleeve and Westbury Court in Westbury-on-Severn.

And the decision would force around 80 residents out of their current home.

This comes as residents recently blasted the care home closure. 

Liberal Democrats, Labour and Green Party councillors have now united to call in the decision which will give councillors an opportunity to reassess the decision made by cabinet.

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'Move failed to comply with decision making principles'

The opposition say the move failed to comply with the principles of decision making and it will now be referred to the adult social care and communities scrutiny committee.

This gives the committee the opportunity to propose modifications or arrange for full council to reverse the decision.

Councillor Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton), Lib Dem spokesperson for public protection and adult social care, said: “It is absolutely right that this decision is called-in for greater scrutiny.  

The Elms care home in Stonehouse

“More than 2,200 members of the public signed petitions opposing the closures and feedback to the consultation from residents, family members and staff universally rejected the proposals.  

“For this reason alone, the decision, which will see 80 residents kicked out of their homes, merits more scrutiny than the 30 minutes which cabinet gave it.

“However, the decision also failed to comply with the principles of decision making in multiple ways.  

“For consultation to be legitimate decisions must not be predetermined and decision makers must take feedback into account, yet quotes from the council leader demonstrate that it was always their intention to close the care homes.  

“Furthermore, cabinet failed to demonstrate why it had discounted alternatives, such as refurbishing the homes, something which was frequently suggested by consultees. 

“When the decision is brought to scrutiny we will provide a robust defence of our residents and their wish for the care homes to remain open.  It will be down to Conservative scrutiny members to decide whether to listen to their party leadership or the voice of their residents.”

The call-in will likely be heard in July and council leaders say care home residents and staff may be confused or unclear about their future while the call-in is under way.

Response from leader of county council 

Council leader Mark Hawthorne (C, Quedgeley) said the decision to close the care homes will not be implemented until after the scrutiny meeting.

“County council has been notified that a cabinet decision taken on Wednesday, June 22 has been called-in.

“It relates to a decision taken by cabinet to decommission and close four homes within the Gloucestershire Care Partnership following consultation with residents, relatives and staff.

“The decision will not be implemented until scrutiny have considered whether the proper processes were followed and all relevant factors taken into account. 

“The scrutiny meeting is expected to be held in July and as part of the call-in procedure, scrutiny can ask cabinet to consider the decision again.

“We appreciate that while this is being resolved, residents and staff may be confused or unclear about their future.  

“The cabinet is confident that we can demonstrate to the committee that all actions were taken appropriately.

“The summer months are the best time to move residents, and if the outcome of the call-in is that the closures can proceed, we will do everything we can to avoid delays to the timetable.”