TWO care homes controversially earmarked for closure are set to remain open for now as Southend Council tries to solve the social care crisis.

The council's joint administration is set to reverse a decision by the previous Tory administration to close down Priory House, in Westcliff, and Delaware House, in Shoebury.

Its long-term plan is to create an adult social care campus to care for people with dementia and provide a day centre for people with learning disabilities, but the current homes will remain open for at least three years. That could include relocating the current Viking Day Care Centre there, which is running from Aviation Way, Southend.

It is hoped the new campus will present more opportunities for care in the community and prevent hospitals from becoming overburdened.

David Norman, a Labour councillor who previously approved the closure of the homes, has now changed his mind as the cabinet member for adult social care.

He said: “When the facts change, I change my mind. At that time, there were 188 vacant beds within Southend. Today, there are only ten. To be closing Priory House nowwould present us with major challenges and probably additional expense.

“However, we must do all of this with at least £540,000. We have an opportunity to become a leader in the way care is delivered through the potential development of an adult social care campus for the borough.”

The social care campus would be based at Priory House and feature a 60-bed dementia care home – bigger than the two current sites – plus a new day care centre catering for up to 45 people with learning difficulties.

A six-month study into the feasibility of the plan will now take place, ensuring the homes remain open for now. The Tories said they had “no option” but to close the centres in November 2013 to save £520,000 a year.

They also said Priory House would need £1million spent on repairs.

The new administration is to spend £225,000 from its capital budget into maintaining Priory House over the next three years and will try to cover the £520,000 figure by axing day services at Priory House and moving them elsewhere, doing a deal with Southend Clinical Commissioning Group, and using cash from reserves.

Once the study has finished, the authority will look at staffing numbers, with the potential to axe costly agency staff and bring it under one management team if the homes are combined. The council is also looking at offering apprenticeships at both of the homes, which could give young people vital experience and cut about £35,000 staffing costs.

HOW £520,000 a year will be saved to keep both homes open for the time being:

 - £150,000 from people paying for their own beds at the homes.

This was income before, but has been increased because of extra demand. People who pay for their beds will not be prioritised over those who do not.

 - £100,000 from Southend Clinical Commissioning Group to use some of Priory House’s care home beds to free up hospital space.

 - £117,000 from moving day services elsewhere. Senior councillors insist the take-up for the service is low, and staff will be re-located elsewhere.

 - £167,000 from reserves, from the Business Transformation Fund. This could be utilised in future years, too.

 - £35,000 could be shaved off staffing level bills by introducing apprenticeships.