Councillor setting Norfolk's annual budget calls the task his "most difficult" since taking the role
Norfolk County Council's plan is worth over ÂŁ520 million - and aims to save over ÂŁ50 million and raise council tax by nearly 5%
The man setting the annual budget for Norfolk's local authorities is telling us that putting together this proposal has been his "most difficult" job, since taking on the role.
It's a net plan worth over ÂŁ520 million - which aims to save over ÂŁ50 million, via cuts to public services, and generate more funding by raising council tax by nearly 5%.
"We need to make sustainable long-term savings"
Andrew Jamieson is deputy leader of Norfolk County Council:
"If we are to keep Norfolk County Council's finances on an even footing, we need to make sustainable long-term savings. With an over-spend of ÂŁ30 million in this year's budget- we've already used a lot of our reserves.
"We need a multi-year finance settlement for local Government. It should obviously mean we get more money- but it's also about the principle that long-term certainty means we're able to make more robust decisions."
"Quite a big old sticking plaster"
Steve Morphew leads Labour at County Hall and is chair of thee councils scrutiny Committee:
"We have got to get through this immediate crisis, to get us into next year where we find a more permanent solution. I think there'll need to be quite a big old sticking plaster to ensure that we don't continue to hemorrhage service and staff, that will push us to the brink.
"We want to see the Council work with Pension Funds to get them to buy homes to lease to the council, which can then let to care staff where we need them to be. There's a huge care shortage in some areas and that in part is because housing costs too much."
The main points of the proposed budget for 2024/25:
-£116 million of investment to meet demand and cost pressures – including £34.7 million for inflation, £37.6 million for legislative requirements and £39.7 million for demand and demographic issues
-ÂŁ52.2 million of new savings, including ÂŁ12.1 million from transforming how the council operates
-New savings proposals totalling ÂŁ1.4 million may require further consultation and will then be brought back to cabinet for decisions
-A proposed 4.99 per cent increase in the county council’s share of Council Tax, in line with the Government’s capping level (2.99 per cent for general Council Tax and 2 per cent for adult social care). This would increase the council’s share of band D bills to £1,672.11. A 4.99 per cent rise would generate £24.9 million