Council tax to rise in Norfolk
It's part of the new budget
Council tax is going up in Norfolk.
A budget for recovery has been agreed by the County Council to support communities, the economy and the environment.
A ÂŁ439 million net revenue budget, a ÂŁ102 million boost for roads and infrastructure and a 3.99 per cent Council Tax rise have been agreed, at today's full council meeting.
County council leader Councillor Andrew Proctor said:
"This budget not only protects the vital services that we deliver and people value but also sets us on the path to recovery.
"This budget sets out to deliver a better future for Norfolk, to see our residents our communities and businesses all begin to flourish again."
Cabinet member for finance, Councillor Andrew Jamieson, highlighted the Covid and other cost pressures facing the council and said:
"We are protecting vital services, investing to tackle flooding, and making as much provision as possible for potential shocks from Covid - all without needing to propose the full five per cent Council Tax increase.
"Looking to the future as we emerge from the pandemic, cabinet will continue to advocate strongly for Norfolk and press Government for our fair share of funding and to bring forward long needed reforms."
Today's decision means the council will:
Raise general Council Tax by the Government's guideline figure - 1.99 per cent - and raise the adult social care precept by two per cent in 2021/22 and one per cent the following year. This would raise the county council's element of Council Tax by 3.99 per cent, increasing the share of band D bills by ÂŁ56.43 to ÂŁ1,472.94 for 2021-22.
Invest ÂŁ45.7m to meet cost and other pressures in services, including ÂŁ28.2m in adult social care, ÂŁ7m in children's services and ÂŁ10.5m in community and environmental services
Set aside ÂŁ18.8m for Covid 19 costs in 2021-22
Make savings of ÂŁ41.2m, including a net ÂŁ20.4m of new proposals
Invest ÂŁ102m in the capital programme, taking the total infrastructure programme to ÂŁ537.66m. New items include ÂŁ11.5m for supported housing for young adults, ÂŁ4m for children's residential homes and investment in the Long Stratton bypass and new libraries.
Invest ÂŁ2m in new funding to respond to flooding, including an additional ÂŁ350,000 in revenue budget provision, ÂŁ235,000 in highways spending to reduce road flooding risks and ÂŁ1.5m for the creation of a new flood reserve to fund urgent works, repairs and to enable recommendations from flood investigation reports.
Increase by ÂŁ4,000 each councillor's Local Member Fund, taking the total to ÂŁ10,000 to be made available to local parishes and communities to fund environmental projects
Provide ÂŁ3m for improvements to greenways, footpaths and the national and Norfolk Trails network in the county.