Council budget proposals published

People can have their say on the county council's proposed council tax levels and budget proposals for next year.

Norfolk County Council is consulting the public, until 1 December 2023, on a 4.99 per cent overall rise to its share of council tax, plus savings of £26.5 million.

Councillor Andrew Jamieson, the council's deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, said: "We are keen to hear people's views on our proposals to balance our budget while ensuring that vital services are protected.

"We are operating in increasingly challenging circumstances, having faced a period of reductions to funding we are now grappling with rising demand and increasing costs to deliver services."

The proposals out to consultation are:

• A general council tax rise of 2.99 per cent, plus a further two per cent of adult social care precept
• Savings proposals of £26.5 million

The £26.5 million of savings proposals make a "significant contribution" towards the council's £46.2 million savings target:

• Adult social services, £14.2 million
• Children's services, £4.8 million
• Community and environmental services, £5.5 million
• Strategy and transformation, £0.9 million
• Finance, £1.0 million

The remainder of savings proposals will be developed over the next few months once further information has been released from government. The council is waiting to hear whether more funding will be provided in the autumn statement in November, or the provisional local government finance settlement in December.

Cabinet will consider consultation findings in January 2024 and make its final recommendations to council. The full county council meeting will decide the budget and council tax level on 20 February 2024.

To take part in the consultation, see www.norfolk.gov.uk/budget