22/07/2026
Lucy and are are not of the same political party but we are united in our opinion of the new Reform administration at County Hall.
Another Full Council Meeting at Norfolk County Council… honestly, you couldn’t make it up.
Today’s meeting was a fascinating insight into what the new administration looks like in practice.
💷 We were repeatedly told that everything had been underfunded by the previous administration…
…while also being told the previous administration had overspent and left the Council with no money.
Apparently, spending too little and too much at the same time is now possible.
🚜 The Parish Partnership scheme appears to have survived…
…because the Leader didn’t seem to know it existed.
His response?
"Can’t see no reason why."
Sometimes ignorance really is bliss.
📅 Appointments to outside bodies have been delayed again.
That’s now around three months after the election before Norfolk County Council is fully represented on many external organisations.
Still… priorities.
🍽️ At one point it was mentioned that the Deputy Leader had been late for lunch with HRH The Princess Royal at the Norfolk Show.
The biggest laugh of the afternoon came not from the opposition… but his own councillors sitting behind him.
🚚 But don’t worry…
We were reassured they’re "all about delivery."
💰 Except, apparently, when it comes to the Leader’s allowance.
One contribution suggested that £40,000 wasn’t enough.
In fact, we even heard that £250,000 wouldn’t be enough.
It does rather leave you wondering…
Exactly how much do they think one council leader is worth?
🔍 Questions were asked about the circumstances surrounding the former Chief Executive’s sudden departure.
We were told everything would be reported back to Council "in due course."
Yet when members sought an opportunity to discuss the matter appropriately - even suggesting confidential elements could be considered outside the public meeting - the response was…
Silence.
Meanwhile, we’re now recruiting a replacement on an even higher salary.
One councillor asked whether this represented "danger money" for working under the current administration.
No answer was forthcoming. Transparency, it seems, remains a work in progress.
🗣️ The administration brought forward a constitutional motion, arguing they simply wished to explain Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights by adding wording that political expression may include language or opinions that some people find controversial, offensive, shocking or provocative.
Not everyone agreed that this was simply an explanation.
At one point, someone in the public gallery shouted:
"Shame on you Reform… the nasty party!"
The motion was carried with support from the Great Yarmouth councillors.
🚧 We then debated our motion to restore the Local Member Fund, allowing local councillors to tackle smaller highways schemes such as safety improvements and resurfacing.
The administration’s response?
Town and Parish Councils should simply increase their precepts instead.
So much for keeping taxes down.
We were also told removing the Local Member Fund and placing the money into a central highways budget was "fairer."
Interestingly, during the debate we also discovered that the administration councillors’ own projects appear to be getting approved.
Fairer…
…depending on where you sit.
⏰ Then we ran out of time.
With several important motions still waiting to be debated, members proposed extending the meeting so the remaining business could be discussed.
The administration voted against extending the meeting.
As a result, debate stopped and the chamber moved to votes only. Residents lost the opportunity to hear councillors debate a number of important issues because, as one member shouted across the chamber:
"Some of us have better things to do."
But it gets better…
We requested recorded votes so residents could clearly see how every councillor voted.
The administration didn’t vote for that either.
It was explained that under the Constitution, just 25% of councillors can request a recorded vote. That appeared to come as a surprise to some members of the administration.
Once it had been explained, there was another opportunity to support greater transparency…
They didn’t vote for it again.
No debate.
No recorded votes.
No transparency.
Apparently there were more important things to do.
Faced with the prospect of one groups motion being rushed through without any debate, they withdrew it in the hope it could receive proper consideration at the next meeting.
🤝 Then came one of the more surreal moments of the afternoon.
Great Yarmouth councillors appeared to look across to the administration before deciding what to do next.
After what can only be described as a reassuring nod from the administration, they then proceeded to amend their own motion…
…which meant they first had to vote to accept their own amendment before voting on their own motion.
The motion itself included overriding the usual role of a committee in relation to working parties.
Council procedure had officially entered its surreal era.
📖 One group then proposed something rather radical…
That:
"The Constitution must be applied consistently by all parts of the authority, including the Executive."
Surely everyone could agree with that?
Apparently not.
The administration voted it down.
Applying the Constitution consistently, it seems, was one principle too far.
💙 Finally, something almost everyone could unite behind.
Councillors backed a motion promoting careers and training in SEND, helping to attract more teachers, therapists and specialist professionals into Norfolk's education system.
It's a small step, but an important one if we're serious about improving support for children and young people with additional needs.
After everything that had gone before, it was refreshing to end the day with something that put Norfolk's children ahead of politics.
Let's hope September's meeting contains a little more of that…
…and a little less political theatre.
Meeting live streamed here: https://www.youtube.com/live/lZzV5kLPJuw?si=qPQMHIzHYxN_3Vdy
Agenda here: https://norfolkcc.cmis.uk.com/norfolkcc/CalendarofMeetings/tabid/128/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/496/Meeting/2463/Committee/2/Default.aspx
