Norfolk County Council budget cuts to be decided today

Controversial plans to cut nearly �60m from county council services and axe the equivalent of 750 full-time jobs will be decided at a Norfolk County Council meeting today.

Opponents to the plans came forward with alternative 11th hour proposals, but the controlling Conservative are likely to ensure the plans are given the green light at the full-council meeting at County Hall at 10am.

The lobby group Norfolk Coalition Against the Cuts are holding demonstrations outside Norfolk County Hall today as part of a protest at cuts in jobs and services.

The plans follow a 'Big Conversation' with residents across the county, which saw the cabinet row back from controversial proposals to tighten up the eligibility criteria for older people to access care, as well as rethinking plans to scrap a subsidy for post-16 transport for college students, following overwhelming opposition.

The authority also wants to use around �10m of government cash earmarked for social care to stave off some of those cuts and create a �5m prevention fund.

But opponents are unhappy about the cuts which are still planned, particularly the scrapping of the youth service, the redesign of day services, and the closure of the Unthank Family Centre in Norwich.

Norfolk County Council's ruling cabinet recommended the budget plans which include a series of cuts across all departments and job losses.

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