DAY care services for the elderly in Suffolk will be run by the private sector and charities after a move to halt the plans failed.At a meeting held yesterday at Endeavour House, Ipswich, county councillors decided against reviewing the decision by a majority of 37 to 24.

DAY care services for the elderly in Suffolk will be run by the private sector and charities after a move to halt the plans failed.

At a meeting held yesterday at Endeavour House, Ipswich, county councillors decided against reviewing the decision by a majority of 37 to 24.

The Liberal Democrats and Independent Group had wanted a call-in after they failed to receive assurances from the Conservative-run authority on finances.

The parties had lobbied Graham Newman, Conservative portfolio holder for adult care, with their concerns, prompting the further debate.

But, at yesterday's full council meeting, councillors voted against extra scrutiny of the plans, giving them the green light to go ahead.

Afterwards, Mr Newman said: “We can now get on with getting the details finalised and I'm delighted we've got the go-ahead.

“We've lost a couple of months because of this and now we need to get on with it. No one is going to lose their day care service as a result of this and that's the main thing.”

The decision will see the withdrawal of council-organised activities and meals at its residential homes.

Instead, the council will seek a private-sector partner to organise the services, with the county council buying lunch club places for non-residents.

The move signals the end of the council directly providing care for older people, with the regime to be phased out over a 15-month period.

Currently, the Suffolk authority provides nearly 2,000 day care sessions a week.

The council buys half the care from 80 independent providers and the other half in its own 14 day centres.

mark.bulstrode@eadt.co.uk