Private sector makes offers on Highland care homes

OFFERS from private companies interested in developing care home sites in the Highlands – including Inverness – are being considered by council officials.

The Highland Council announcement came in the wake of details released by SNP opposition leader John Finnie which suggested information about potential private developers was deliberately withheld prior to the local authority’s decision to scrap its £30 million care home building programme three weeks ago.

This week, however, details about each developer’s intentions and how any proposed private care home provision may operate are unclear.

“They are obviously seeking work from the council, but there has been no detailed discussions,” said Councillor Margaret Davidson, who chairs the council’s housing and social work committee, adding she did not know whether developers planned to build their own care homes on the sites.

The council’s business case for its Inverness care home Ach-an-Eas, in Island Bank Road, says the site is worth £2 million for residential development. The former care home Burnside, in Burn Road, which has been demolished, would be valued at £1.2 million.

Both valuations are on the basis of planning permission being granted for any new developments.

If the council’s building programme had gone ahead it was proposed to have a new care home on the Burnside site which would cater for residents at Ach-an-Eas.

Councillors voted 52 to 25 last month to scrap the building programme – a decision which resulted in some members backtracking on their manifesto pledges to back the scheme.

The main reason for the Independent/Lib-Dem/Labour coalition turning its back on the plan was because, it argued, the authority could not afford to build the new homes due to unprecedented cuts over the next three years and reduced capital spending.

It has now been revealed the council received letters from companies interested in sites in Inverness, Fort William, Muir of Ord, Tain and Grantown-on-Spey a month before councillors decided to ditch its project.

Interest came from city-based Robertson Property and Threesixty Architecture, as well as Christie and Co in Edinburgh.

Councillor Finnie thinks information on the private interest may have altered some opinions on the care home programme.

“The key issue is whether this momentous decision – which saw the administration break their promise – was made with members having the fullest range of options and fullest information,” he said.

Ach-an-Eas – site would be worth £2 million. Iona Spence

He has requested related written and e-mail correspondence is sent to him, as well as notes from meetings and he questions whether it was officials or political interference which meant paperwork was not available sooner.

Katherine Mackintosh, property development manager for Robertson’s, had a meeting with the council’s director of housing and property Steve Barron two days prior to the decisive full council meeting.

“Robertson are very keen to work with the council and believe that we have a solution which provides a ‘win win’ for everyone,” she stated in a letter to Mr Barron the day before the decision.

An earlier letter from Threesixty Architecture director Rory Kellett stated another private sector care home developer was also interested.

“The developer believes that the current situation is unfortunate, but believes there is still the opportunity to deliver the planned care home provision for the Highlands,” he states.

A council spokesman said officials responded to interest in a neutral fashion, advising the decision of members would set the context for any further discussion.

“The council’s decision in June indicates a willingness to explore a range of options for each community,” he said. “The representations from developers and others will now be considered as part of that work.”

He added the local authority’s chief executive Alistair Dodds would respond to a letter from SNP opposition leader John Finnie, about his claims of information being withheld.

Council budget leader, Councillor David Alston, was happy members had all the relevant information prior to the meeting, adding it was common knowledge private care home developers were interested in expanding in the Highlands.

Dr Ian MacNamara, chairman of the Highland Senior Citizens Network, will meet officials next month to discuss progress on the care home issue. “How far they have got with the assessment of each of the homes,?” he asked. “What they have done in terms of looking at the viability of the existing care homes?”

Councillor Davidson said this work was ongoing but it would be too early to report progress in August.