A total of 23 members of staff and one resident could be moved for the second time in a year as three more ageing Bradford Council-run care homes are under threat of closure.

Councillors are being asked to agree to begin a consultation next month over the future of Holme View in Holme Wood, Neville Grange in Shipley and Harbourne in Wibsey, Bradford.

It follows the closure of three homes in October last year – Laurence House in Undercliffe, Meadowcroft in Rooley Lane and Thackley Grange in Idle, Bradford.

As a result of these homes closing down 73 workers and seven residents were moved to other Council-run homes. It emerged at a Council meeting last night that a number of these people could have to relocate again if the further closures go ahead.

Members of the social care overview and scrutiny committee also heard pleas from the relatives of residents of the threatened homes.

They questioned why a possible six Council homes would be closed without any new ones being built to replace them.

Janice Simpson, the Council’s assistant director of operational services in adult and community services, explained that £17.5 million had been set aside to build five new 40-bed homes but that an increase in costs meant they were looking into the possibility of building three larger homes instead.

One woman described Harbourne in Wibsey as “like putting on your slippers” and that “all the residents are like family” to one another.

Councillor John Robertshaw, chairman of the committee, added: “You have my assurances that we will make sure that each individual that must leave one of these care homes finds a place where they will be happy.”

The report will next be discussed on Friday, February 10, where the executive will be asked to agree to consult on the future of the three homes, and to prepare business cases for five new homes, while looking at implications of increasing the size of the homes.