The move has disappointed the Highland Senior Citizens Network which last might accused the administration of using the economic recession as a "trojan horse".

The delay will enable the cash-strapped authority, which yesterday agreed to savings of more than £8 million across four of its smallest departments over the next three years, to review its business case for the homes.

It needs to save up to £80 million between now and 2013 and cuts to other services will be considered in February.

However, Dr Ian McNamara, chairman of the network, fears the care homes delay could be the first step towards the administration shelving the programme altogether.

"Having observed the debate it is obvious that the economic recession is being used as a trojan horse by those councillors who were never in favour of the council running the new care homes'" he said.

"When the council proposed five privatised care homes before the last election the business case put before councillors was totally spurious. It is always possible to create a business plan to conform to your pre-determined decision."

His comments followed a heated debate at the council's headquarters in Glenurquhart Road during which Councillor John Finnie, leader of the SNP opposition, accused the administration of putting "undue pressure" on councillors and making "shabby deals" in order to push the recommendation through.

He expressed frustration with senior members of the Independent/Lib-Dem/Labour coalition for providing false reassurances - some as late as just a couple of weeks ago - about the progression of the care home programme.

"The economic crisis did not happen in the last fortnight," he said, putting forward an amendment that the council should push ahead with the programme as planned.

Inverness Provost Jimmy Gray took exception to the comments claiming: "There is not a genuine conspiracy not to deliver the care homes."

Budget leader David Alston insisted it was a "short-term delay".

The discussion resulted in a handful of the administration, including Inverness councillors Peter Corbett and John Holden splitting away from the ruling coalition. Members voted 41-22 in favour of delaying the programme to allow a review of the business case. There were seven abstentions.

Meanwhile, an earlier motion put forward by SNP councillors Drew Hendry and Jean Urquhart asking for council meetings to start at 1pm to save money on the authority's £88,000 food bill during meetings was withdrawn after the administration gave a commitment to discuss the issue of meeting times and review the way it provides food.

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