HEREFORDSHIRE councillors will be presented with details of a contract for the private running of five OAP homes in the autumn.

Sue Fiennes, the council's director of social care and strategic housing, said details of a proposed contract between the council and its preferred bidder Shaw Homes should be discussed by the cabinet in October.

The council is in talks with Shaw about handing over the operation of the homes, including Leadon Bank in Ledbury and Froome Bank in Bromyard, in return for investment.

The council retaining ownership is a central part of the arrangement, but last week Shaw said it needed a long lease on the buildings.

This prompted concern from public services union Unison, who called for the council to retain 'active ownership'.

Ms Fiennes said this week negotiations were going in the right direction.

"Matters concerning the length of the lease are part of those discussions. It is obvious that Shaw would need security for their investment in all the homes and services, both from the lease and the contract," she said. "The considerations of the length of lease are entirely consistent with the council retaining ownership of the property and land."