Plans for a balanced budget and a 2.99 per cent Council Tax rise were agreed by Norfolk County Council on 21st February 2022.

The full council agreed:

• A 2.99 per cent rise in the county council’s share of Council Tax, in April – not the maximum permissible 3.99 per cent
• An increase in the 2022/23 net budget by £25 million compared to this year, to £464.325 million
• A review of the council and how it operates, to bridge a £60 million budget gap predicted for 2023/24

Council leader, Councillor Andrew Proctor, said the council was increasing spending on its key service areas and capital programme and was determined that Norfolk would build back better after the pandemic – despite being “ravaged” by a lack of funding.

He said the council was pursuing devolution talks with the Government to obtain greater powers and investment to help the people of Norfolk.

Cabinet member for finance, Councillor Andrew Jamieson, said he would save money from how the council was run, through a series of transformation programmes.

He said: “We are tightening the council’s belt, instead of raising Council Tax even higher, because we know residents face a rapid rise to the cost of living. I’m determined to save money by making the council even more efficient and effective.

“We will also continue to lobby the Government for our fair share of funding, whether it be in recognising the challenges of being a large, rural, and ageing population, or in funding health and social care.”

The 2022-23 budget proposes significant investment, while addressing continuing severe pressure on services, including:

• Adult social services: £35.478 million of growth pressure (including for the National Living Wage), against planned savings of £10.465 million.
• Children’s services: £23.244 million of growth pressure, against planned savings of £12.088 million.
• Community and environmental services: £10.053 million of growth pressure, against planned savings of £3.496 million.

A 2.99 per cent rise in the county council’s share of Council Tax means the following for different tax bands from April this year:

A £1,011.30

B £1,179.85

C £1,348.40

D £1,516.95

E £1,854.05

F £2,191.15

G £2,528.25

H £3,033.90

The budget reports are available at https://norfolkcc.cmis.uk.com/norfolkcc/CalendarofMeetings/tabid/128/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/496/Meeting/1806/Committee/2/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx.