Councillors voted 54-0 to approve amendments to the council's Financial Regulations, the internal rules that govern how public money is managed and spent across the authority. The changes were moved by Council Leader Cllr Kay Mason Billig and seconded by Cllr Fran Whymark.

The council then unanimously approved its Pay Policy Statement for 2026-27, which sets out how the authority approaches staff pay and rewards for the coming financial year. Before the vote, Cllr Emma Corlett declared a pecuniary interest and withdrew from the item, as she is currently employed by the National Education Union.

Both decisions were taken at what is effectively the last full meeting of the current council before county elections in May 2026, at which all council seats will be contested. The outgoing administration will hand over these updated governance frameworks to whichever group forms the next administration.

The Leader, Cllr Kay Mason Billig, used the meeting to reflect on the council's financial record, noting that a balanced budget had been delivered every year under the current administration. However, opposition councillor Cllr David Bick raised concerns that the council's cumulative debt is forecast to exceed £900 million by the end of the 2025-26 financial year, with interest payments running at more than £650,000 per week.

The Leader defended the borrowing, saying it had funded capital projects including new libraries in Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn, highways infrastructure, and investment in social care and children's services.