Shaw Homes looks back on track to take over the running of Leadon Bank old people's home in Ledbury and Froome Bank in Bromyard.

Herefordshire Council's ruling cabinet met last Friday and is sticking to its original recommendation for the future of five homes it owns but says it can no longer afford to operate.

The council was forced into a second public consultation period after a High Court challenge by protesters in Leominster, concerned about Waverley House, one of the five homes.

The cabinet's recommendation will be put to a meeting of the full council today (Friday) for a final decision.

Cabinet member and Marcle Ridge councillor Don Rule said the preferred option would see the running of the homes passed to an "independent, not-for-profit" organisation, but the council would continue to own them.

Under the recommendation, council officers would be empowered to continue negotiations with its preferred partner, Shaw Homes, which already operates Ledbury Community Hospital.

The decision has been met with anger by campaigners battling the keep the homes in local authority control.

Steve Grist, spokesman for the Relatives' Action Group for the Elderly, or RAGE, said: "This decision goes against the views of the residents and relatives who, very clearly, want the homes to stay in the control of the local authority. I'm not surprised by the council's actions but I am angry and appalled."

Former Ledbury mayor Spencer Lane, whose mother-in-law is a Leadon Bank resident, said he was still concerned about the lack of information coming from the council to relatives and residents.

Eddie Clark, branch secretary for the public services union Unison, said: "If the full council is dead set on the cabinet decision, then we will have to resume negotiations with Shaw to get the best deal for our employees."

However, he said of the second consultation period: "Our feelings were that this was merely a going through the motions exercise."

Jeremy Nixey, Shaw's chief executive said: "We are delighted with the news and look forward to working in partnership with the council. The discussions to date indicate exciting potential for new services, to provide for both the current and future needs of the residents."