Bidders eye running of care homes

More than 100 people joined a demonstration in Inverness in May

Highland Council has set out its stall to more than 30 companies interested in taking over a third of its care homes for the elderly.

Six homes in five communities have been earmarked for transfer to the private sector because the council said it can no longer afford to upgrade them.

It has guaranteed contracts of a minimum of 15 years to bidders.

Campaigners staged a protest in May when the decision was taken to put the running of the homes out to tender.

The council, which hosted a conference in Inverness with potential bidders, said it hoped to be in a position to award a contract or contracts by next summer.

This project is about improving the quality of living conditions and ensuring a better quality of life for older people living in cares homes in the Highlands Councillor Margaret Davidson

Margaret Davidson, chairwoman of the council's housing and social work committee, said: "The procurement initiative is critical and fundamental to our strategy for modernising services for older people.

"This project is about improving the quality of living conditions and ensuring a better quality of life for older people living in cares homes in the Highlands."

May's decision came after a long and emotional debate at Highland Council's Inverness headquarters.

Campaigners staged a protest before the meeting voicing their fears that standards of care would fall.

Councillors were told it could cost more than £40m to do the work required on the upkeep of the homes. The private sector will now be invited to tender.

A crowd of more than 100 protesters had urged the authority not to go down the route of privatisation and warned members that the decision could impact on next year's elections.