Norfolk County Council had invited care providers to express their interest in taking on 20 care homes run by the council's own Norse Care company, with the contract to run the homes expiring this March.

And, at a meeting later this month, the authority's Conservative cabinet is due to agree to sell them to Stow Healthcare Group, based in Bury St Edmunds.

Council leaders said the sale of the care homes - which have more than 480 beds - would lead to better quality care, and the "best value" for Norfolk taxpayers.

But critics branded the move as "asset stripping" and said it was motivated not by a desire to improve quality of care, but to rid council-owned company Norse - which runs a number of other companies and services in Norfolk and beyond - of debts.

The council has not revealed how much will be generated by the sale to Stow Healthcare Group, which was itself bought by London-based Cgen Care Group last summer.

Under the terms of the sale, the homes themselves - which belong to the county council - would be sold, along with the Norse Care company.

The council says residents in the homes would remain in them and Norse Care staff would transfer over to the new company.

Andrew Jamieson........

© Norwich Evening News