Scrutiny considers budget proposals

Councillors are to examine the county council's initial proposals to bridge a £46 million budget gap.

A report to Norfolk County Council's scrutiny committee says the authority faces a "significant challenge" to develop a budget for 2024/2025, ahead of further announcements on funding from the Government, later this year.

Chair of scrutiny, Councillor Steve Morphew, said: "Balancing the books when times are tight is more than getting the numbers to add up. We need to know what the priorities are, what may be sacrificed because of continuing pressures on funding and make sure every penny of council tax and public money is spent properly.

"Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of public life. Scrutiny is a key part of that. This session is an important milestone in the budget setting process."

Pressures facing the council include:

• Price inflation of £12.5 million, including £7 million in adult social care and £3.2 million in children's services
• Demographic pressures, including £5.5 million in adult social care and £9.5 million in children's services

So far, £26.5 million of savings have been proposed and the remainder will be developed over the next few months:

• 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 current proposals include a Council Tax increase of 4.99 per cent, including the adult social care precept of two per cent.

Public consultation on the budget will be undertaken over the autumn, once scrutiny has considered the report and made any recommendations.

The scrutiny committee meets at 10am on Wednesday 18 October.

Watch the meeting, live or afterwards and read the reports.