Norfolk County Council is considering whether to raise Council Tax by a further one per cent to raise an extra £4 million for services.
The council had been considering a 4.9 per cent rise - 1.9 per cent for general services and three per cent for adult social care. However, the government announced in December 2017 that councils could levy a further one per cent for general services, bringing the Council Tax to 5.99 per cent.
The council’s committees will consider the budget proposals throughout January, and the full council will make a final decision on 12 February.

The Prime Minister has announced plans for a new Northern Forest along the M62 corridor as part of the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan.
Following backing from the Environment Secretary Michael Gove, over the next 25 years the Woodland Trust and Community Forest Trust are hoping to plant more than 50 million trees from Liverpool to Hull.
Theresa May has revealed that the government is providing almost £6 million to launch the first project of its kind for more than a quarter of a century.

A grant scheme to support rural businesses in Mid and East Devon is being expanded to support more applications from the farming community.
The LEADER REAL (Rural Enterprise and Local Livelihoods) Devon programme is being overseen by Devon County Council, and is providing £1.2 million to boost the rural economy and generate new jobs. So far, £400,000 has been allocated in support of 17 businesses - and more applications are being sought.
The eligibility of items for farmers now encompasses more capital equipment.

Parking charges in Cambridge’s car parks are to change from April as part of the council’s plan to tackle congestion, air pollution and carbon emissions.
The new charges have been agreed following consultation with city centre stakeholders, but are still subject to approval of the council’s overall budget in February.
The changes, which would take effect from 1 April, are set to include a charge to encourage drivers to switch to other modes of transport to access the city centre during the very busy period between 8am and 10am.

UK car sales declined in 2017 after five years of rapid growth, with the industry blaming government for a lack of confidence in diesel vehicles.

The Environmental Audit Committee has called on the government to introduce a 25p latte levy on disposable coffee cups.
It has also set a target to recycle all cups by 2023.
The Environmental Audit Committee said the money raised through the levy could improve the UK’s recycling facilities.
It also wants the government to ban disposable coffee cups unless they are all recycled by 2023.

This year’s NHS winter crisis should push government to fully fund our social care system, council leaders have said.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said there cannot be a sustainable NHS without a sustainable social care system.
It argues urgent new funding is needed to address the annual social care funding gap, which will reach £2.3 billion by 2020, and avoid an all-year round NHS crisis.

A new paper, published by the NLGN, has argued that local authorities should adopt a bold ‘changemaking’ approach for its future steps.

Londoners are hardest hit by the effects of problem waste, new research into overflowing waste has revealed.

Leicestershire County Council is working with the Woodland Trust to improve the region’s green areas by offering free trees.