Councillor Eunice Saunders has been seeking an assurance that there is no 'hidden agenda' that would lead to the closure of Woodside Respite Care Home at Hildersley and four other Herefordshire Council-run homes.
Mrs Saunders, who is Herefordshire Councillor for the Penyard Ward and Chairman of the Friends of Woodside, was speaking to officers at a meeting of the Council's Social Care and Housing Scrutiny Committee in Hereford last week.
Mrs Saunders told The Ross Gazette: "I asked if there was a 'hidden agenda'. I requested an assurance that the five homes would not close, the officers said that theyt could not give me that assurance, but they said they were still looking for potential partners for the future operation of the homes."
The Chairman of Herefordshire Council, Councillor Peter Harling, was at the meeting. Mrs Saunders said he asked to be allowed to speak.
She explained: "The Chairman said 'I can give you that assurance. It was a unanimous decision of the full Council not to close the homes.'
Mrs Saunders added: "He said that any proposal made for closure would have to go back before a meeting of the full Council. No committee could make a decision for a home to close."
She said she was pleased that Mr Harling had attended the meeting. She added: "During my years on the Council, I have never seen a Chairman who took so much interest in the committees, or attended so many meetings."
Mrs Saunders said that everyone agreed that there was a desperate shortage of respite care in the County. She stressed that Woodside caters for people who want to stay in their homes, it offers help to their carers who need a break. Also people who have been in hospital go to Woodside for convalescent care.