Latest articles
Council meeting minutes, translated into plain English
Friday, 11 September 2026
Norfolk fire service forecasts £870k overspend as costs rise
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service is on course to overspend its budget by £870,000 this financial year, driven by rising staffing and operational costs. The council says it is tightening spending controls to address the pressure.
Monday, 3 August 2026
Norfolk fire service overspend raises alarm as council forecasts balanced budget
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service is forecasting a net overspend in 2026-27, though the council says the overall budget remains balanced. The fire service overspend has been partially offset by a budget uplift, with managers tasked with tightening financial controls.
Norfolk faces £73m annual bill for home-to-school transport
Norfolk County Council is spending £73 million a year on home-to-school transport, prompting a detailed review of the service. Cabinet members discussed ways to cut costs, including route planning software, a procurement exercise, and a review of transport for students over 16.
Friday, 24 July 2026
Tuesday, 21 July 2026
Wednesday, 15 July 2026
Norfolk considers selling Norse Care as council eyes full estate review
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.
Norfolk Fire Service faces £1.5m savings target amid underfunding fears
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.
Norfolk faces £35.9m budget gap as council tax rise of 4.99% planned
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.
Thursday, 9 July 2026
Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Thursday, 28 May 2026
Tuesday, 28 April 2026
Norfolk's £96.5m borrowing explained as council defends finances
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.
Norfolk council's cash balance fell sharply before £30m last-minute boost
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.
Friday, 24 April 2026
Norfolk Museums draws £189k from reserves to balance 2025/26 budget
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.
Norfolk archive dips into reserves as budget pressures mount
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.
Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Tuesday, 7 April 2026
Norfolk on track for balanced £572m budget despite Children's Services strain
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.
Norfolk secures £3m government fund to help households facing heating oil crisis
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.