Devon County Council is to press ahead with plans to transfer care services, such as Daw Vale residential home in Dawlish, to the private and voluntary sectors.

The decision was taken at County Hall after it was claimed that a poor government cash settlement and the escalating costs of an ageing population had forced the county into taking action. Head of adult and community services, David Johnstone, outlined four options for the future, the first being the preferred 'accelerated' transfer to other providers. This, he said, would offer a 'strong fit' with corporate objectives and be achievable within 12-18 months. Another option to establish an independent body to run the services would take twice as long and offer savings of just £2 million while a third option to develop a 'trading unit' within the council had the 'lowest fit' with objectives, save just half a million and not meet the public's needs. The fourth choice, closure of the services followed by their refurbishment, would offer a 'medium fit' and match option one's £5 million savings. Fending off potential critics of the plan he issued a challenge: 'What I would say is, come forward with other proposals.' He added: 'It is impossible to maintain the level of services we currently have with the demand that is rising.' Cllr Saxon Spence urged caution and said: 'It does seem a rather big bang approach, an approach which occasionally backfires. Baby and bath water come to mind.' She warned that the private and voluntary sectors could become 'over-burdened'. She suggested that joint working between health and social services could deliver the savings and maintain public services. 'We are rather panicking and could lose the really high quality services the community does value,' she said. Bovey Tracey councillor, Sally Morgan, supported the transfer but blamed the cost of the Iraq war. After complaining that the government had chosen to fund the conflict rather than provide enough cash to local authorities she said: 'The knock on effect is that we must modernise.' The council has promised to consult on its plans, which affect care homes and domiciliary services.