West Norfolk Council hopes to be ‘back on budget’ by year end, Chris Morley says

West Norfolk Council hopes to be “back on budget” by the end of the year, its cabinet member for finance has said.

At the authority’s full meeting last week, Cllr Chris Morley, who holds the portfolio, said around £600,000 of potential savings have been identified.

He said this year, the council has withdrawn £2.7million from its reserves - with the majority of this going towards planning and construction projects.

A similar amount was withdrawn last year - but this time around, Cllr Morley expects more money to come in and balance the books through vacancies the council is no longer looking to fill, internal drainage board grants, and other schemes.

“We have been fighting against a high wind all year, and we have come out of it reasonably well,” Cllr Morley added.

“So taken together, I think we may be back on budget by the year end - and hopefully improving like we did last year on our draw from the reserves.”

• Meanwhile, at the same meeting, Cllr Sandra Squire, the council’s cabinet member for environment and coastal, said the authority is “pushing back” on county council plans to reduce opening times at tips.

A new system which will require people to book a slot at the tip is set to go live this month.

Norfolk County Council insists that the controversial changes will help with service demand, reduce congestion and make sites safer while ensuring costs are covered for the disposal of waste.

But the authority has faced backlash from residents and councillors in the wake of the announcement, with some worried that people could be more tempted to fly-tip their rubbish.

Cllr Squire said the borough council is monitoring the situation “very closely”.

This came after Cllr Sandra Collop spoke out against the county council’s plans.

She said they will create “an extra barrier to people disposing of their waste responsibly” - and voiced concerns that West Norfolk will have to “pick up the bill” of extra fly-tipping.

• Cllr Anthony Bubb asked council leader Alistair Beales: “Would you agree with me that the sound system used tonight leaves an awful lot to be desired, and are you prepared to ask for a show of hands of councillors who have heard every word spoken?”

Cllr Beales said he would be prepared to do so, but readily admitted he had not heard every word himself.

However, he said financial constraints meant introducing a new sound system at the town hall would be easier said than done.