‌Derbyshire County Council – run by Reform UK – announced in December that the prospective sale of eight of its care homes had failed after extensive discussions. The council explains in its budget documents that the eight care homes will close in July, saving £11.4 million a year, when combined with the closure of five day centres. However, a prospective buyer of one of the affected care homes, The Grange, in Southgate, Eckington, has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he has had multiple approaches directly rebuffed by the council’s chosen agent. He said his offer was rebuffed on the basis that the council only wished to sell all eight homes to one buyer. “We understand how upsetting this news has been for families and we are disappointed for all our residents, families and care colleagues.