Norfolk County Council has agreed an 'in-principle' deal to sell its own company Norse Care - and 20 care homes - to private company Stow Healthcare Group.

Leaders at Conservative-controlled County Hall said the deal would enable fresh investment into those homes and that the March end of Norse Care's contract to run them was the right time to make the change.

However, the deal has yet to be concluded and the council has had to agree an extension with Norse Care to keep running them until July.

But, since the Tory cabinet agreed to the sale, the government announced Norfolk County Council - and all the other councils in Norfolk - will be scrapped and replaced with new ones.

At a recent meeting of the council's cabinet, Labour county councillor Mike Sands called for the sale to be halted.

He said: "The recent extension of Norse Care contract to manage Norfolk County Council homes brings it to or beyond the point where the structural change order for the creation of new unitary authorities will have been drafted or laid before Parliament.

"To try to rush through a sale in those circumstances may result in wasted effort or reinforce the appearance of a fire sale to attempt to cover up mismanagement of the council care estate.

"Will cabinet now abandon the sale and engage with emerging new unitary authorities on how the care estate fits in with their plans to deliver residential care in future?"

Andrew Jamieson, cabinet member for finance at Norfolk County Council (Image: Denise Bradley)

But Andrew Jamieson, the council's cabinet member for finance ruled out a rethink.

He said: "The purpose of the extension is to complete the adult social care sufficiency procurement exercise and housing with care tender to ensure the safe transition of services.

"The extension is intended to support the in-principle sale decision, which was after a detailed sales process during which any interested party could have come forward and at this stage, I see no reason to revisit that decision."

Norse Care is also continuing to provide care in more than a dozen housing with care schemes until July. A new contractor is being sought to run those.

However, the council has already had to bring in a new provider at the independent living scheme at Swallowtail Place in Acle.

After a highly critical report of the quality of care by watchdogs the Care Quality Commission, Norse Care withdrew from providing the service, with Radis Community Care brought in to replace them.

Which care homes are affected?

Beauchamp House, Chedgrave

Bishop Herbert House, Norwich

Cranmer House, Fakenham

Ellacombe, Thorpe Hamlet

Harker House, Long Stratton

High Haven, Downham Market

Lydia Eva Court, Gorleston

Mayflower Court, Norwich

Rebecca Court, Heacham

Rose Meadow, North Walsham

St Edmunds, Attleborough

St Nicholas House, Dereham

Sydney House, Stalham

Woodlands, King's Lynn

Three Norse Care properties - Springdale Care Home in Brundall , Burman House in Terrington St John and Linden Court in Watton - had already shut.

Which housing with care schemes are affected?

Barley Court, Costessey

Benjamin Court, Cromer

Dell Rose Court, Norwich

Green Lane View, Aylsham

Harriet Court, Lakenham

Laburnum Grove, Thetford

Lisbon Court, King's Lynn

Lloyd Court, High Kelling

Oakes Court, Downham Market

Redmayne View, Sprowston, Norwich

Robert Kett Court, Wymondham

St Augustine's, Gorleston

The Lawns, Great Yarmouth

The Meadows, Bowthorpe

© Norwich Evening News