Norfolk County Council has rejected a motion that would have asked Cabinet not to sell off key public assets including libraries, museums, the county farm estate and recycling centres — with the vote failing by the narrowest possible margin.

The motion, proposed by Cllr Kay Mason Billig and seconded by Cllr Daniel Elmer, was put to the council on 28 May. It fell 38 votes to 37, with one abstention, meaning a single vote determined the outcome.

The motion also called on the council Leader to write formally to the Secretary of State requesting a fairer funding settlement for Norfolk, pointing to "disappointing" government funding as a source of pressure on council budgets.

A Labour amendment, accepted by the original proposers, had added stronger language around SEND provision and walking and cycling infrastructure before the vote was taken on the combined motion.

The assets named in the motion — libraries, museums, the county farm estate and recycling centres — are spread across Norfolk and used by residents across the county. The motion described them as "vital to enable services to be delivered to residents."

With the motion lost, there is no formal Council instruction preventing Cabinet from considering the disposal of these assets. Decisions about whether to sell or retain them will remain with the new administration led by Cllr David Bick, who was elected Leader at the same meeting.

The council also noted that Norfolk's children's services recently received an Outstanding rating in all four areas from Ofsted, and that bus service usage has increased by 26% following recent investment in new routes and rolling stock.