Concerns have been raised that cutting millions of pounds from budgets for adult social care could leave the service 'at breaking point'.

Leaders at Norfolk County Council need to plug a £46.2m hole in the authority's budget for 2023/24 and £26.5m of potential cuts and savings towards that has been identified.

That includes saving £14.2m from adult social services. Council leaders say much of that will be via "transformation", with the council encouraging people to live independently, which will save money on residential care.

Eastern Daily Press: Brian Watkins, leader of the Liberal Democrat group at Norfolk County CouncilBrian Watkins, leader of the Liberal Democrat group at Norfolk County Council (Image: Liberal Democrats)

But Brian Watkins, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group, raised concerns over the state of the care market during a debate over the budget at a meeting of the council's cross-party scrutiny committee.

Mr Watkins said: "Once again, it is adult social care which is going to be bearing a large proportion of the proposed cuts."

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Eastern Daily Press: Alison Thomas, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for adult social careAlison Thomas, Norfolk County Council cabinet member for adult social care (Image: Archant)

Alison Thomas, Conservative cabinet member for adult social care, said: "Adult social care has the largest budget, so it does have to try its best to meet its share of the budget savings.

"But, in time I've been the cabinet member, I've seen a massive drive for transformation of services, rather than ceasing of services, but also a challenge to those providing services for us."

She said the department was looking at how it bought care, so it was not paying for services it was not using.

Eastern Daily Press: Concerns have been raised over the future of adult social care in NorfolkConcerns have been raised over the future of adult social care in Norfolk (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

After the meeting, Mr Watkins said: "Norfolk’s adult social care service is near breaking point and the Liberal Democrat group is concerned for its ability to survive with the current levels of funding.

"We call upon the government to provide more assurance through the reform of social care funding and multi-year settlements which will allow for long-term planning."

Eastern Daily Press: Andrew Jamieson, cabinet member for finance at Norfolk County CouncilAndrew Jamieson, cabinet member for finance at Norfolk County Council (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Andrew Jamieson, the council's cabinet member for finance, previously warned all services the authority is not legally bound to provide to the public could be at risk.

Eastern Daily Press: Norfolk County Council needs to save £46.2mNorfolk County Council needs to save £46.2m (Image: Mike Page)

He has called for the government to change how it funds local councils to give longer-term settlements.