Leeds City Council urged by union to reconsider care home closure

Knowle Manor Care Home in Morley

Leeds City Council has been urged to reconsider a "disastrous" decision to close one of the city's residential care homes.

Knowle Manor in Morley will close as part of plans to save more than £65m in 2024/25.

Trade union Unison said it would leave those "most in need" at the "mercy of the private sector".

A council spokesperson said a final decision on how plans are implemented would be made in the summer.

At a council meeting on Wednesday, approval was given to a proposed budget that includes the closure of Knowle Manor.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Stewart Golton told BBC Radio Leeds he had tried to tell the council it had lost its "moral compass".

Mr Golton said he told the authority: "You are basically moving a whole bunch of older people who have just settled into what should be their forever home and you've basically said 'you are inconvenient to our needs'."

'Quick fix'

A second home, Dolphin Manor in Rothwell, would also be repurposed as a recovery hub to free up hospital beds, it was heard.

The closure is part of a wider cost-cutting plan to try and address the council's budget shortfall and meant "very challenging choices" had to be made, a council spokesperson said.

A consultation, which is currently taking place, will look at the impact the closure would have on residents and their families.

Unison Yorkshire and Humberside regional organiser Brendan Cafferty said: "Closing Knowle Manor might be a quick fix to get the council out of a financial hole, but it'll be disastrous in the longer term.

"Leeds would be left with just one general care home. That will leave those most in need in the city at the mercy of the private sector."

A council spokesperson said agreeing to progress the budget proposals in principle was "one step in the process".

"Once we have completed the consultation in March a final decision will be made by our executive board in the summer as to how our proposals are implemented," they added.