'No hidden agenda'

There is privately some suspicion that the review could lead to redundancies among the 715 staff employed by the council in this area, and / or the closure of some respite and day care centres.

Keith Hunkley, director of adult social care, told a news conference in Lewes on Friday: "This will be a comprehensive review to get the best possible services and, inevitably, there will be changes.

"But we will protect our staff by redeploying them, if necessary.

"Our services are only as good as our staff. They are a highly skilled and flexible workforce and we want to keep them."

But he added: "I can't say categorically that no buildings will close. The purpose of the review is to seek the best for the people in our care.

"We have the resources. It is a question of how we use them. Some buildings may turn out not to be suitable for their current purpose.

"But this is about new opportunities, not cut-backs.

"Each year we do more and more in the local community."

The council budget for older peoples and those with learning disabilities is currently 18.5 million a year.

The review has been prompted by the fact that East Sussex has the highest percentage of over 85-year-olds in the country and the second highest proportion of population over pensionable age. And the elderly are living longer.

The countywide review of directly provided services began in January.

Work has already begun at Homefield Place in Seaford. Other homes currently under review are Milton Court in Eastbourne, Ridgewood Rise in Uckfield and Grangemead in Hailsham.

County homes in Bexhill such as Haldane House and St Bridget's have long since been closed.

Last month the county cabinet voted to axe its funding of intermediate care beds at jointly-operated Thornwood in Turkey Road and use the 772,000 this released on care in the community.

The current reviews are part of a comprehensive audit of all home care, day care, residential, respite and community support services that it provides, says the county.

There are 5,399 pensioners currently getting private or voluntary care and 2,515 being helped by social care services.

There are 890 people will learning disabilities in the private and voluntary sector and 583 in social care services.

Looking after the council clients are 715 staff.

Cllr Keith Glazier (children and adult services) said: "We simply don't know what the review will throw up. But it is important to appreciate that this is not about saving money. It is about making better use of it.

"There is no hidden agenda; but putting our heads in the sand is not an option.

"The pressure is the growth of an aging population and how to deal with it."