Derbyshire County Council entered discussions with a private care provider prior to the May 2024 local elections as part of the then-Conservative administration’s plan to sell eight publicly owned care homes. These homes are located in Borrowash, Swadlincote, Eckington, Long Eaton, Ashbourne, Shirebrook, Swanwick, and Bolsover.
The previous council leadership approved the move in late 2023, citing financial pressures and the need to reshape adult social care services. The strategy was framed as part of a broader effort to make the care system more sustainable by focusing on dementia support, short-term recovery services, and hospital discharge facilitation.
Despite the political shift following the May elections, where Reform UK took control of the council, the negotiations appear to be ongoing. The incoming administration has not yet named a new leader or cabinet, and it remains unclear whether it will continue with the privatisation agenda or reverse the decision.
The proposed divestment has drawn sustained opposition from trade unions, local MPs, and community groups, with concerns about the long-term cost and impact on care quality. Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Green councillors had opposed the sell-off, arguing it lacked transparency, failed to reflect demographic trends, and risked undermining care provision for vulnerable residents.
A separate plan to sell a ninth care home, Ada Belfield in Belper, also remains unresolved. Though it was approved for sale earlier this year, the facility has not yet been placed on the market. Opened in 2020 at a cost of over £11 million, the home had been earmarked for divestment due to projected financial losses.
