Budget approved by councillors

Norfolk County Council has set its latest budget, which tackles spending pressures and protects key services.

The budget approved today includes:

• A net spending increase of £29.6m to meet rising costs
• A Council Tax increase in line with the Government's cap of 4.99 per cent - 2.99 per cent for general Council Tax and two per cent for the adult social care precept. This would increase the County Council's share of band D bills from £1,516.95 to £1,592.64.
• A "significant proportion" of the £59.7m savings coming from "doing things better for less", including £17m from the first phase of a strategic review of the council

County council leader Councillor Andrew Proctor said the Council had to contend with underfunding, high inflation and other pressures - but he was "confident that we have the finances of the Council under control and that the budget before you today is balanced, robust and forward looking.

"It's essential we use public money in the best and most efficient ways we can and that's what this budget clearly demonstrates."

Councillor Andrew Jamieson, cabinet member for finance, said: "Our priorities are stable finances, well delivered public services, economic growth and protecting and enhancing Norfolk's heritage and environment.

"We are protecting vital services; investing to tackle flooding; and we have made provision for the aftershocks from Covid and the pump priming the local economy needs to recover."

The proposed spending for each department is:

• Adult social services, £249.5m
• Children's services, £232.6m
• Community and environmental services, £177.1m
• Strategy and transformation, £12.8m
• Finance and commercial services, £35.8m

The same meeting will consider its £956.9m capital investment in buildings and equipment, funded by grants and property sales. In addition to a range of existing schemes, like the Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing and investment in special education needs (SEND) schools, there are new investments totalling £35m:

• County Farms refurbishment and carbon reduction schemes (£9.4m)
• The rolling Technology Improvement programme (£8.2m)
• Scottow Enterprise Park refurbishment (£8.6m)
• Estate Buildings Decarbonisation initiatives (£4m)
• Highways improvements (£2.5m)
• Fire and Rescue services equipment and site improvements (£1.2m)
• Expansion of waste recycling sites and services (£0.51m)
• One Million Trees for Norfolk (£0.5m)

View the budget reports online.