East Renfrewshire Conservatives have continued to raise their opposition and concerns as the vote to sell Bonnyton House comes ever nearer.
It is believed that East Renfrewshire Council have finally found a buyer with a vote to confirm the sale scheduled for 26 October 2016.
Cllrs Stewart Miller and Eastwood MSP Jackson Carlaw have consistently argued against the privatisation of the only public residential care home in East Renfrewshire, arguing that its sale will diminish care services available to local residents as a private sector provider withdraws services such as rest bite care which are presently provided.
Privatisation has been vocally supported by local Scottish Labour and SNP Councillors.
Commenting on the impending vote Eastwood MSP Jackson Carlaw said:
“Bonnyton House is a real asset to ensure that compassionate care is provided to local residents locally.
“It is shocking but not surprising that we have the crocodile tears of our local MP who says that more must be done to keep Bonnyton House open while her Council colleagues salivate over privatising this local asset.
“I have today written to East Renfrewshire Council Chief Executive, Lorraine McMillan, to raise the unanswered questions of local families who have been provided no answers onhow this sale will impact their loved ones.”
Cllr Stewart Miller, Leader of the Scottish Conservative Council Group, said:
“With the vote on privatising Bonnyton House only days away there remains little detail about who this proposed purchaser is.
“We simply cannot approve the sale to someone without knowing that this local asset will be protected and precious services not withdrawn.
“Bonnyton House could well stay as a public residential care home after proper financial restructuring, yet proposals to improve finances of Bonnyton have consistently been rejected by the Council.
“For example, the big loser for Bonnyton was not its residential care but the day care centre where the per person per session charge was only £4.41 when the actual cost to the Council is 30 times that.
“Residents and staff can be sure that my Scottish Conservative Council colleagues and I will vote against this SNP led firesale.”