An "error" meant county councillors did not get to debate problems with a government-bankrolled deal to control spiralling spending on children with special educational needs (SEND).

Angry opposition Norfolk county councillors say crucial information about progress on a "safety valve" agreement signed with the government in March last year was not presented to them.

Norfolk County Council's County Hall headquartersNorfolk County Council's County Hall headquarters (Image: Mike Page)

The safety valve deal saw County Hall get £70m to cover the deficit it was accruing amid rising numbers of children needing specialist provision or extra support.

Just a few months after the agreement was signed, the council told the Department for Education its scheme was "off track" and the agreement renegotiated.

With the council anticipating a £115m deficit in the schools budget by next March, the council has told schools it needs to adjust SEND top-up funding allocations over the next two terms to remain within budget.

While the council is increasing the amount available from £30m to £35m, five multi-academy trusts warned the change could mean some schools have to slash budgets by up to £1m.

The council's Conservative cabinet considered the issues this month, where leaders warned Labour's plans to make private schools pay VAT on fees could push more children with educational needs into mainstream schools.

But Labour councillors said other committees, including non-Conservative councillors, should also have had the chance to hear about the situation, so they could question and challenge decisions.

Labour county councillor Steve MorphewLabour county councillor Steve Morphew (Image: Archant)

Labour group leader Steve Morphew asked the cross-party scrutiny committee to consider why annual and bi-annual reports on progress had not been presented to those committees - as had been agreed more than a year ago.

Officers acknowledged a "genuine error" meant the deal's progress had not appeared on forward plans of those committees.

They said the general election and the renegotiation of the safety valve deal had also interfered with the timing of presenting the latest information to committees.

Mr Morphew said: "If the safety valve agreement wasn't working, that's exactly what should have been reported back and the fact that negotiations were going on."

He added the VAT issue was "irrelevant", as SEND children with education, health and care plans would be exempt.

Officers said reporting procedures would be improved, while SEND issues will be the focus of a future scrutiny committee.