Four of the region's Conservative MPs have heaped pressure on Rishi Sunak to give more cash to on-the-brink councils, with political leaders in Norfolk proposing more than £50m of cuts and savings.
Great Yarmouth MP Sir Brandon Lewis, Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman, North West Norfolk MP James Wild and Waveney MP Peter Aldous are among more than 40 Tory backbenchers who have written to the prime minister.
They have urged him to pump more into local government, at a time when some councils have effectively declared bankruptcy and Norfolk County Council is making £52m of cuts and savings.
MPs who signed the letter, organised by the County Councils Network, could vote against the Local Government Settlement - which sets out how much councils are given by Whitehall to run services - unless more cash is made available.
Norfolk County Council revealed on Friday that, as part of its bid to balance the books, it could shut recycling centres one day a week, charge disabled people more for their care, hike council tax by 4.99pc and dig into its reserves to deliver a balanced budget.
The proposals come amid rising costs in adult social care and children's services and a less-than-expected settlement from the government.
The MPs wrote they were “disappointed” with a lack of extra money and "exceptionally concerned that without any additional investment, the overwhelming majority of upper-tier councils in our areas are planning service reductions and higher council tax in order that they can pass a balanced budget".
Sir Brandon said: "As a former local government minister and council leader, I understand how important local authorities are to residents.
"The services they deliver are vital to our communities, and it is important that they are properly supported by government."
Mr Freeman raised the issue in Parliament on Monday, when he asked local government minister Simon Hoare to meet him to discuss the "fair funding formula" to ensure rural councils are "properly funded" in the next settlement.
Mr Hoare replied: "As a rural Member of Parliament I’m tempted to say to (Mr Freeman) he’ll be preaching to the choir, but of course, I’m happy to meet him."
Mr Freeman said: "Rural councils have never been as well funded as city councils, but the cost of fuel and energy following the Ukraine war has hit rural areas like Norfolk especially hard - with higher costs of transport and heating hitting public services as well as local businesses.
"With rising demand for council services like social care rural councils like Norfolk County Council are facing real pressure.
"That’s why I’ve joined cross-party MPs in writing to urge extra funding for local public services."
But Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at Norfolk County Council, said: "It is absolutely staggering and the height of hypocrisy for the same former Tory ministers that brought council finances and services to their knees to have a revelation about damage they have done just before the electorate judges their appalling record.
"If they were serious they would have been lobbying months ago when council funding was being decided and all the signs were there was going to be no more money."
A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities spokesperson said: "We recognise councils are facing challenges and that is why we have announced a £64bn funding package – a real terms increase at an average of 6.5pc – to ensure they can continue making a difference, alongside our combined efforts to level up."
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