South Gloucestershire's home care privatisation plan postponed

Plans to privatise home care services in South Gloucestershire have been postponed until June.

On Monday evening, Conservative councillors voted against the proposal which involved contracting council care services to private companies.

The move will safeguard 130 jobs until the summer when the final decision is expected to be made.

Barry West, from the trade union Unison, said: "We're pleased as it gives us a chance to look at options."

The decision to move home care services was first brought up in autumn in an effort to save £1.1m from the council's budget.

Councillor Maggie Tyrell (Lib Dem) said: "It's going to be a real test for a new committee because it's a decision that has to be made one way or the other.

"If we make the decision in favour of the in-house team, at the moment that will cost the council's community care budget £1m which we'll have to find somewhere else."

On Thursday, South Gloucestershire Council voted in favour of restructuring the council's democratic structure, from a cabinet system to committees.

Once this change goes through, a council committee will decide on the future of the home care service.