Norfolk County Council ran up costs of around £1.2 million over 18 months working on plans to reorganise local government in the county — work that has now been scrapped after the Government withdrew its proposal.

The Cabinet Member for Strategy, Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation told councillors the final cost figure is still being confirmed, but that more than 150 council staff were tied up on the reorganisation work at the point it was halted — representing, in his words, "a significant chunk of Norfolk County Council's capacity and skills."

The Government had promised £2.7 million in funding to cover councils' costs of preparing for the changes, but that money was never paid. The council has since written to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government asking to be reimbursed, and has received no response.

Cllr Tim Day asked the Cabinet Member to confirm the total spent and called for a freeze on any further spending in this area. The Cabinet Member confirmed that all reorganisation work has now stopped and no further financial commitments will be made.

The revelation came as councillors debated a motion, proposed by Conservative Cllr Kay Mason Billig, calling on the council to formally demand full reimbursement from the Government and to insist that no further taxpayer money be spent on reorganisation until the Government provides clear answers about its plans. That motion was put to a vote and lost, with 27 votes in favour, 36 against, and 13 abstentions.

Local government reorganisation in Norfolk is now described as "off the table for the foreseeable future," with the council instead turning its attention to a proposed Norfolk and Suffolk Mayoral Combined Authority, which the current administration says could unlock significant new infrastructure funding for the county.