A TROUBLED arms-length care company is to be axed before the end of the year.

SB Cares has been troubled by poor inspection reports and a failure to meet planned financial forecasts since its inception just over four years ago.

Further problems emerged this year with senior staff being suspended and investigated.

As we revealed earlier this month plans were being drawn up for Scottish Borders Council to take back control of the services.

And Councillors voted this (Thursday) morning to accept the proposals to end SB Cares on December 1.

Scottish Borders Council chief executive Tracey Logan is assuring all 870 SB Cares staff members and its 12,000 clients that they won't be affected by the changes.

She told us: "We are continuing to make it absolutely clear that the plans that were approved today will have no detrimental impact on the care delivered by the outstanding SB Cares staff.

"All clients will still receive first-class service from the same staff.

"This is purely an organisational change and we have written to all clients and staff to reassure them of that.

“There are challenges facing the care sector right across the country, but we feel there are still opportunities to further improve our services and facilities here in the Scottish Borders."