The event, held to celebrate an “outstanding” Ofsted result, saw every member of Norfolk County Council's children's services staff invited to what officials have described as a "breakfast briefing".

The morning meeting welcomed 318 staff - roughly a quarter of the department's workforce - who packed out the chamber and were served food from a private caterer.

County Hall (Image: Newsquest)

While the event took place 10 days before Reform took official control of the council, the party has now waded in by branding the spending as "unacceptable" and "frivolous" - adding further fuel to a growing division between staff and the administration.

Concerns among employees first grew after the removal of the Progress Pride flag from above County Hall, but have since extended to complaints over spending, working practices and morale.

The full cost of the celebration, uncovered by this newspaper via a Freedom of Information request, came to £6,321 including VAT.

The event was held on May 18 to coincide with the Ofsted publication, marking an impressive turnaround for a department rated "inadequate" in 2015 and "requiring improvement" in 2017.

Six councillors also attended, including the council's outgoing leader Kay Mason Billig.

It is understood that........

© Norwich Evening News