Fresh fears have been raised over pressures on Norfolk County Council's finances, as it emerged the authority has run up multi-million-pound overspends.
At a time when a number of councils have effectively declared bankruptcy, council leaders said the situation is becoming 'toxic'.
Kay Mason Billig, the leader of Conservative-controlled County Hall said she was disappointed the recent autumn statement had contained little to help councils amid rising demand.
She said: "We were led to believe there would be something for us. [Local government secretary] Michael Gove talked about presents under the Christmas tree, but it was an empty box when we opened it. That's not his fault, but we continue to lobby the government."
The council has identified £26.5m of the £46.2m in savings it must make to deliver a balanced budget in 2024/25.
READ MORE: Norfolk County Council dismisses bankruptcy concerns
But Andrew Jamieson, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, told a meeting of the cabinet on Monday that the council has an overspend of £9.8m in children's services and nearly £2m in adult social care.
He said: "Adult social care is now coming under huge financial pressure. The overspends in the current year have to be covered as far as they can be by use of departmental reserves, which has been done in adult social care and children's services."
He warned it would have a knock-on effect on future budgets.
Bill Borrett, cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, said: "The overspends are not due to incompetence or bad management, but an inevitable ratcheting up of demand as a result of demographic pressures we are facing as a country."
He said the council spends more each year to meet demand, but money from the government is not keeping pace with increased need in a county with an ageing population.
Councils in Nottingham, Birmingham, Hackney, Northamptonshire, Croydon, Thurrock and Woking have previously issued section 114 notices - effectively declaring them bankrupt - because they could not balance the books.
Graham Plant, cabinet member for highways, infrastructure and transport, said the situation was becoming "quite toxic".
Mrs Mason Billig said the county council was "prudent and stable" but would keep lobbying the government for more help.
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