Councillors have overturned plans to close down a troubled nursing home and promised to keep it under public ownership.

Osborne Grove in Upper Tollington Park – Haringey’s only remaining publicly-owned care home – was earmarked for closure in December last year after health inspectors branded it ‘inadequate’ following a visit to the home in March.

Councillors voted to close the home on care and safety grounds due to concerns at the pace of improvements and the £1 million overspend required to bring it up to standard.

But at a meeting of Haringey’s cabinet on Tuesday (June 26), councillors overturned the decision and set out alternative plans for the home.

Cllr Peray Ahmet, cabinet member for adults and health, said: “The site will be retained for nursing care. We have made it clear that any partnership looked at will be in the public sector and existing residents will remain in the home.”

The council plans to expand the site to accommodate more residents as demand for later-life care increases.

Under the proposals, the existing 32-bed site will be doubled in size, with the remaining seven residents allowed to stay on site while construction work takes place.

But at last night’s meeting, the council was accused of ignoring the wishes of the relatives of Osborne Grove occupants for the home to remain a 32-bed site providing both long term and intermediate care.

Michelle Rodda, whose mother is a resident of Osborne Grove, said that option had originally been on the table but was not included in the council’s report.

She asked how the council would be able to run a 64-bed home if they could not run a 32-bed home to an acceptable standard.

Councillors pledged to continue working with a ‘co-design group’ featuring relatives of residents but did not include an amendment reflecting Ms Rodda’s plea.

Haringey Council is holding discussions with the NHS, registered providers, the voluntary sector and local government about collaborating to provide care at Osborne Grove.

The current cost of running the home is more than twice the annual budget of £1 million due to the recruitment of additional supervisory staff to support the quality of care.

But the council says it will be able to reduce the costs to £1.3 million once those staff are no longer required.