Council could increase council tax in bid to save £45 million

Council tax could be going up in Norfolk.

That's the warning if proposals to save money across the county are accepted in a council meeting tonight.

Last month, Norfolk County Council revealed there could be a £45 million defecit in funds due to the pandemic.

A report, which will go to the committee tonight, suggests raising council tax by 1.99 per cent and to raise the adult social care precept from 2 per cent to 3.99.

If approved, the new proposals will bring the gap to £15 million, meaning the the council is still calling for government support.

Councillor Andrew Jamieson, cabinet member for finance, said:

"This is the toughest budget the council has faced so far. The triple whammy of rising budget pressures, uncertainty over Government funding and the costs of tackling Covid 19 have created a unique challenge.

"We’ve covered some £30 million of our £45.4 million gap and tried, wherever possible, to cut running costs and reduce the impact on frontline services. The aim of these proposals is to protect services that support the most vulnerable whilst ensuring that the council becomes more financially resilient and sustainable for the future.

"But, without additional Government support and certainty over our biggest and costliest service - adult social care - we face further tough decisions later this year. We are continuing to speak with the MHCLG, lobbying with key groups like LGA and County Councils Network and working alongside our MP's for a fair and sustainable settlement for local government."

The proposals include:

• Adullt social services: savings of £18 million (from a £256 million net budget)

• Children's services: savings of £5 million (from a £196 million net budget)

• Community and environmental services: savings of £7 million (from a £163 million net budget)

• Strategy and governance: savings of £1 million (from a £9 million net budget)

• Finance and commercial services : savings of £2 million (from a a £31 net million)

• General finance: savings of £3 million (from a -£225 million net budget)

• council tax
• norfolk county council