Norfolk County Council is planning millions of pounds of cuts it does ‘not want to make’ in the face of a £44.75m deficit in its budget for next year.
The local authority has identified £33.5m of spending cuts for 2025-26, including £16.5m in adult’s social care, £7m in children’s services and £6m on infrastructure.
Norfolk said it would consider raising council tax next year, by either 3%, up to 5%, or more than 5%.
It has also proposed reducing spending on housing-related support services and switching off a further 2% of the streetlights it maintains.
The council warned its budget this year was also under strain, and said it may need to freeze some non-essential spending if the ‘financial controls’ it has introduced in adult and children’s services are insufficient.
Deputy council leader Andrew Jamieson said: ‘We have identified a number of savings which we do not want to make, but we have no choice under the present financial circumstances while we await forthcoming financial settlements from the Government.’
Cabinet will consider the proposals on 7 October.
