With the ruined care provider Southern Cross forced to announce its shutdown to its shareholders this week, contingency plans are apparently in place by the West Berkshire district council, so as to ensure that residents living at homes under its jurisdiction do not have to turf out onto the streets!

After the announced wind-up of Southern Cross, Joe Mooney - the West Berkshire Council portfolio holder for community care – reiterated his earlier promise that, in case of the collapse of the care provider, the council will step in to the help of those who are in need of care.

Reassuring the residents, Mooney said in a Wednesday announcement that the council is “working hard to reach a successful result to this situation”; and added that the people should rest assured that they will continue to receive care service and will not be left without care.

Mooney further added that the Southern Cross issue was fully known to councils across the country for some time; and said that contingency plans will be implemented “according to the outcome of the discussions.”

However, expressing the concern that whatever had been heard from the council thus far was not very satisfactory, Shadow councillor for community care Julian Swift-Hook said that he had been monitoring the situation, and “will be asking a question at the next Executive meeting”!