Articles about budget from Norfolk County Council
Norfolk County Council is planning a 4.99% council tax rise for 2027/28 as it tries to close a £35.9m budget gap. Across the full medium-term financial strategy period to 2030/31, the total funding shortfall stands at £148.5m.
Source: Strategic and Corporate Select Committee
Norfolk County Council has confirmed a £1.5m savings target for the county's fire and rescue service as part of its 2027/28 budget plans, despite councillors raising concerns that the service is underfunded compared to urban fire services.
Source: Strategic and Corporate Select Committee
Councillors have requested an update on the proposed sale of Norse Care, a council-owned care company, to be brought to the September 2026 meeting. The request came alongside a broader push to review Norfolk County Council's entire property and asset portfolio ahead of local government reorganisation.
Source: Strategic and Corporate Select Committee
The Norfolk Pension Fund has presented its draft annual accounts for the year ending 31 March 2026 to councillors, alongside an external auditor's provisional planning report. The accounts reveal a shift in investment income driven by changes in asset mix rather than falling returns.
Source: Pensions Committee
A motion calling on Norfolk County Council not to dispose of key public assets including libraries, museums, the county farm estate and recycling centres was defeated by a single vote. The motion, backed by the Conservative group, was lost 38 votes to 37 with one abstention.
Source: County Council
Norfolk County Council's cash reserves fell significantly during 2025-26 before a £30 million payment received at the end of March stabilised the position. The council borrowed £96.5 million during the year to fund capital projects, with auditors raising no concerns.
Source: Audit and Governance
Norfolk County Council borrowed £96.5 million in 2025/26 solely to fund capital projects, officers confirmed at an April audit meeting. Both internal and external auditors raised no concerns about the borrowing, which the council says remains proportionate.
Source: Audit and Governance
Norfolk Museums Service will draw around £189,000 from legacy reserves to close its 2025/26 accounts, though officers say the full reopening of Norwich Castle gives them confidence going into the new financial year. The Museums Pass, which now has over 10,000 members, and commercial events at the Castle are key income sources helping to stabilise finances.
Source: Norfolk Joint Museums Committee
The Norfolk Record Office will draw on £25,000 of its reserves to help meet council savings targets in 2026-27, prompting concern from committee members that nearly 30% of reserves are being earmarked. Members warned the move could signal a damaging trend if repeated in future years.
Source: Norfolk Records Committee
Councillors have warned that Norfolk residents may end up footing the bill for local government reorganisation after the Government provided only £2.7m of an estimated £50m cost. The three new unitary councils will each start life carrying a share of transition debt, with final costs still unknown.
Source: Strategic and Corporate Select Committee
Norfolk County Council is forecasting a balanced budget for 2025-26 on a net spend of £571.9 million, despite significant financial pressures in Children's Services. The council delivered 100% of its planned savings for the year and has saved over £200 million since 2021.
Source: Cabinet
The government has provided Norfolk County Council with around £3 million to establish a crisis fund for households at risk of losing heating or hot water due to rising oil prices. The fund targets the significant number of Norfolk homes that rely on heating oil rather than mains gas. The announcement was highlighted at the April cabinet meeting as a delegated decision.
Source: Cabinet
Norfolk County Council's cumulative debt is forecast to exceed £900 million by the end of the 2025-26 financial year, costing more than £650,000 in interest every week. The Leader defended the borrowing as necessary for major infrastructure and services, but opposition councillors called for a plan to bring debt down.
Source: County Council
The Pensions Committee has signed off the Norfolk Pension Fund's budget for 2026-27, which includes funding for new staff positions created as part of a recent governance restructure. Specific budget figures were not disclosed in the public part of the meeting.
Source: Pensions Committee
Norfolk County Council is on track to deliver a balanced budget for 2025-26, despite early financial pressure in children's services and adult social care. Cabinet also confirmed the government has approved a capitalisation direction for the Norwich Western Link, effectively underwriting costs that could not be funded from normal revenue.
Source: Cabinet
Every budget amendment put forward by opposition councillors at Norfolk County Council's annual budget meeting was voted down by the Conservative majority. Proposals included protecting bus subsidies, pausing the sale of NorseCare, and increasing flood mitigation funding.
Source: County Council
Norfolk County Council has approved its budget for 2026-27, setting a total net revenue budget of £613.776m. Council tax will rise by just under 5%, with the increase split between a general rise of 2.998% and an Adult Social Care precept increase of 1.999%.
Source: County Council
Norfolk County Council has received an additional £2.1 million through the Final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2026/27. The council is also in line for a payment covering 90% of its Special Educational Needs funding deficit, though payment won't arrive until autumn 2026.
Source: Audit and Governance
Norfolk County Council's proposed 2026-27 budget includes a one-off measure requiring the Norfolk Record Office to draw £25,000 from its reserves. The committee was told this will not affect day-to-day services, and the NRO is on track to balance its budget for 2025-26.
Source: Norfolk Records Committee