Councillors debated concerns that critical care inspections were being inadequately scrutinised, after a motion warned that adverse CQC reports risked being "forgotten" or "buried" during the pre-election period.

The motion, proposed by Cllr Brenda Jones and seconded by Cllr Mike Sands, highlighted two specific concerns. Norfolk County Council's own adult services department had been rated as "requiring improvement" by the CQC, while Norse Care — a wholly owned council company — was found to be providing "inadequate" care at Swallowtail Place before surrendering its contract.

Councillors heard that despite assurances given at Cabinet that the CQC report on adult services would be brought before the Adult Social Care and Public Health Select Committee in March 2026, it was not included on the agenda. Members of that committee had reportedly expressed concern about the omission.

The motion also raised a procedural concern: the Select Committee Chair was reportedly told it was not possible to add the report as a supplementary agenda item because the request came within five days of the meeting — but the motion argued no such rule exists in the committee's procedural rules.

The motion sought to refer the issue to the first Cabinet and Select Committee meetings after the May elections, require detailed action plans with timescales for any future below-standard CQC ratings, and ask the council's Monitoring Officer to clarify the procedural advice given to members.

Following a vote-only debate — the three-hour meeting time had elapsed — the motion was defeated, with 19 in favour and 31 against, and no abstentions.

The council did hear separately that Norse Care's contract at Swallowtail Place has since been re-let to private provider Radis Care under a framework agreement. The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care expressed confidence that Radis Care would improve standards at the home.