The controversial decision over the future of two council care homes will be decided at a special meeting of Westmorland and Furness Councils leadership later this month that council see council leaders vote to close Grizedale Croft in Alston and Applethwaite Green in Windermere.
The council said it is ‘taking time’ to consider all the evidence in the case of two care homes which face potential closure.
Applethwaite Green in Windermere and Grizedale Croft in Alston both could be closed down by Westmorland and Furness Council.
Officers recommended the care homes be shut after they were found to be ‘obsolete’, before the council went into consultation to gather the public’s opinion on the potential closures.
Now, with consultations having finished, the Liberal Democrat cabinet is set to make the final decision later this month.
It had planned to make the decision at the recent meeting but it was postponed to give officers more time to prepare the final report.
Councillor Patricia Bell, cabinet member for adult care, addressed the recent cabinet meeting about the upcoming decision.
Cllr Bell said: “I want to acknowledge just how difficult, emotional and important these discussions have been for residents, families, staff, local communities and everyone who has taken an interest in the future of the two homes.
“Over recent months, the council has received a very significant amount of feedback, correspondence, questions, suggestions and challenges.
“That level of engagement reflects how deeply people care about these homes and I’d like to thank everyone who has taken the time to engage.”
She added it had ‘never’ been a consultation where responses have ‘simply been collected and counted’.
Cllr Bell said: “Many of the questions and challenges we have received have led to further work being undertaken, additional analyses being carried out, assumptions being tested and further evidence has been gathered to ensure that no relevant issue has been overlooked.
“Far from being an inconvenience, that scrutiny has been very valuable. It has helped to ensure that cabinet will have the fullest possible understanding of the issue before reaching a decision.
“Given the volume of information that’s now been gathered, it’s right that additional time is taken to bring everything together properly.”
She said that was why the decision on both care homes was pushed back to October 27.
Cllr Bell also thanked cabinet members who visited the home.
She added: “The decision at full cabinet this month will be a very important one. It must be informed, evidence-based and made with a full understanding of both the opportunities and consequences involved.”
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