Norfolk County Council's budget cuts package approved

A package of almost £44m worth of cuts to services run by Norfolk County Council has been backed by councillors.

The savings proposed in the authority's 2012-13 budget will mean the loss of up to 360 full time jobs.

A vote earlier at County Hall in Norwich saw the majority of its £595m revenue budget proposals backed.

But plans to reduce the scale of the quality assurance service were scrapped after discussion with unions, its leader Derrick Murphy confirmed.

The service, which maintains adult care standards, had planned to be reduced in scale to save £185,000.

The latest savings form the second year of a three-year cuts plan at the council worth £155m.

Last year it cut £60m from its budget with the loss of 443 jobs.

The revenue budget for 2012-13 of about £595m will see a council tax freeze for residents and more funding for roads, apprenticeships and services for children in care.

The budget will now be discussed at a full county council meeting on 13 February.