Council watchdogs have launched a probe into controversial proposals to close Ingrow Green old people's home in Keighley.

Members of the social scrutiny committee called in a decision by Bradford Council's ruling executive to hold consultations over the home's future.

Discussions with residents, relatives and local people will now stop while the committee debates the issue, the first time it has been called in. A final decision on whether Ingrow Green can be saved could be delayed by several weeks.

The committee plans to quiz council officers and fire chiefs and examine documents in a bid to discover exactly what problems Ingrow Green faces.

The home is said to need at least £1 million of improvements to meet essential fire, health and safety regulations. The Council fears it cannot afford the cost.

Following a further meeting on February 28, the committee can call for the executive to review its decision on Ingrow Green or push for the entire Council to debate the issue. The call-in was made by Conservative and Liberal members of the Council's scrutiny committee for social issues.

Councillor Kris Hopkins (Con, Worth Valley), a member of the scrutiny committee, said: "I want to see all the evidence which was placed in front of the executive which enabled it to make the decision.

"Three sheets of paper in front of the Council was insufficient to make a decision. I want to test the fire problem and building regulation problem.''

But the scrutiny committee's action was branded "ridiculous'' by Councillor John Godward (Lab, Great Horton), a member of the executive who is responsible for health and social care.

"All they can do is send the decision back to the executive which would rubber-stamp it again,'' he said.

The consultation process was due to last three months and would include meetings with Ingrow Green residents and their relatives, local care agencies and other interested parties.

The executive would then meet again to examine the responses before making a final decision on Ingrow Green's fate.

Options include moving Ingrow Green residents out for up to a year while improvements are carried out, or closing the home for good and replacing it with sheltered housing.

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