THE future of East Renfrewshire Council's last publicly owned carehome hangs in the balance as the preferred bidders scrap their buyout deal.

ERC says it is still committed to selling Bonnyton House despite the setback.

ERC has also said that the preferred bidders have not yet advised of the reason for their withdrawal from the process.

In 2015 the East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s Integration Joint Board approved that Bonnyton House care home should be sold as a going concern.

The approval of the council was also required as it owns the building and site.

When approval was given to proceed with the sale of Bonnyton, the council gave permission that, in the event of the sale not being successfully concluded with the preferred bidders, negotiations could be undertaken with other bidders.

The preferred bidders were not the only formal bidders for the facility and East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (ERHSCP) will now immediately begin the process of revisiting other bids.

Jim Fletcher, council leader, said: “I am extremely disappointed that the preferred bidders due to purchase Bonnyton have withdrawn. Whilst we have not yet been advised of the reasons why, I am aware of inaccurate comments made about the bidders during this process.

"A huge amount of work has gone into this process to date and Council had also taken the unprecedented step of supplementing pension contributions of Bonnyton staff by for a period of three years to match the terms currently in place for those transferring employment to the new prospective owners.”

Julie Murray, ERHSCP Chief Officer, said: “In preparation for the sale my officers carried out a very thorough and robust due diligence process.

"The preferred bidders had a compelling vision for the future of Bonnyton House and were prepared to invest heavily in the building. It is therefore very sad that they have withdrawn from its purchase."

The ERHSCP says it will continue to keep staff, residents and their families fully informed as the process to identify a new buyer continues.

Julie Murray added: “We fully appreciate that this has been a difficult process for all those involved and we will do all that we can to bring this to a conclusion as fast as we can.

"In the meantime we will keep everyone involved fully informed every step of the way.”