Norfolk Lib Dems call for County Hall to tap into ‘extra’ £14.2m
August 8, 2011 10:35 AM
Tory leaders at County Hall are facing fresh calls to dip into the reserves and build care homes for vulnerable youngsters after it emerged the county council has £14.2m more in its coffers than expected.
Lib Dem opposition leader Paul Morse will today challenge the ruling Conservative cabinet to back a plan to create new accommodation for children in care as a cheaper alternative to placing them out of the county.
Mr Morse said that he council's finance monitoring report shows in total the authority has £14.2m more available in its coffers than expected because it has saved nearly £2.9m in reduced interest payments, has £6.2m left in its modern reward strategy fund, while also keeping its general balances topped up by £2.1m more than the recommended £14m level. A fund set up to offset the council's potential losses from the Icelandic banking collapse could also have nearly £3m more in it if the council succeeds in clawing back around £31m of the cash it is owed.
"We should be able to provide for the majority of young people in Norfolk," Mr Morse said. "To create the necessary accommodation you need to invest around £6m, but not only would you get a better deal, you would save about £10m. The administration is in a better position than it expected to be and should use that money for the benefit of young people in Norfolk."
Previously the Lib Dems calls to sell off part of its county farm stock to fund the proposed accommodation were rejected as unsustainable.
Taken from Eastern Daily Press
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