PLANS to privatise part of the social care network for elderly people in York are to come under fresh scrutiny.

City of York Council’s executive decided earlier this month to move ahead with proposals to outsource its reablement services, which help residents reduce their dependency on long-term home care by learning and regaining skills.

The authority has said the move is aimed at saving £696,000 in its first year and £1.25 million a year afterwards, and would allow the service to be enhanced while avoiding extra costs for taxpayers.

But the Unison union has called for it to be put on hold over claims changes brought in during a previous reorganisation of the service have not been given time to bed in and staff, who would be offered voluntary redundancy, have been angered by the proposals.

The decision has now been “called in” by Labour councillors James Alexander, Tracey Simpson-Laing and Barbara Boyce for further scrutiny at a meeting on January 10, which will rule on whether the executive should be asked to look at the issue again.

Coun Alexander said: “The necessary accurate information required to make an informed decision on whether to privatise the reablement service has not been received prior to the executive making its decision, nor has there been any meaningful consultation with partners.”