Norfolk County Council is on course to break even this financial year, balancing a net budget of £571.9 million after taking early action to tackle overspending across departments.

The finance update, presented to Cabinet by Vice-Chair Cllr Andrew Jamieson, showed that all planned savings for 2025-26 had been delivered in full — a target described as covering 100% of the savings programme.

Children's Services remains the most significant pressure point. Rising demand, increasingly complex cases, and heavy reliance on expensive independent specialist placements have all pushed costs higher. Pressures linked to SEND provision, the Dedicated Schools Grant, and the High Needs Block deficit continue to weigh on the department's finances.

However, the council offset some of these pressures through a £7.2 million best-value mitigation plan within Children's Services, and home-to-school transport — which supports around 18,600 children every day — came in £1.9 million under budget.

Adult Social Care is also forecast to balance its budget, though officers flagged emerging pressures in services for older people and those with learning disabilities as areas requiring close monitoring.

The council's total borrowing is forecast to reach £945 million by 31 March 2026. Cabinet members stressed this represents long-term investment in infrastructure and services, with repayment costs accounting for just 7% of the total revenue budget.

Cllr Jamieson noted that since 2021, the council has delivered savings of over £200 million while continuing to fund services beyond its statutory obligations. The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care highlighted that savings of around 8% of the overall adult care budget had been achieved through tight financial controls.

The council also approved writing off £307,499 in bad debts and noted a £750,000 interim dividend paid to Norfolk County Council by Repton Property Developments Limited in March 2026.