Budget to "build back better" agreed

Plans for a balanced budget and a 2.99 per cent Council Tax rise have been agreed by Norfolk County Council today.

The full council agreed:

• A 2.99 per cent rise in the county council's share of Council Tax, in April - not the maximum permissible 3.99 per cent
• An increase in the 2022/23 net budget by £25 million compared to this year, to £464.123m
• A review of the Council and how it operates, to bridge a £60m budget gap predicted for 2023/24

Council leader, Councillor Andrew Proctor, said the Council was increasing spending on its key service areas and capital programme and was determined that Norfolk would build back better after the pandemic - despite being "ravaged" by a lack of funding.

He said the Council was pursuing devolution talks with the Government to obtain greater powers and investment to help the people of Norfolk.

Cabinet member for finance, Councillor Andrew Jamieson, said: "We are tightening the Council's belt, instead of raising Council Tax even higher, because we know residents face a rapid rise to the cost of living.

"I'm determined to save money by making the council even more efficient and effective. We will also continue to lobby the Government for our fair share of funding, whether it be in recognising the challenges of being a large, rural, and ageing population, or in funding health and social care."

The 2022-23 budget proposes significant investment, while addressing continuing severe pressure on services, including:

• Adult social services: £35.478m of growth pressure (including for the National Living Wage), against planned savings of £10.465m
• Children's services: £23.244m of growth pressure, against planned savings of £12.088m
• Community and environmental services: £11.208m of growth pressure, against planned savings of £3.496m

A 2.99 per cent rise in the county council's share of Council Tax means the following for different tax bands from April this year:

• A £1,011.30
• B £1,179.85
• C £1,348.40
• D £1,516.95
• E £1,854.05
• F £2,191.15
• G £2,528.25
• H £3,033.90

You can read the budget reports online.