Title

FINANCE

Senior Nottingham councillors refuse to back budget cuts

Senior members of cash-strapped Nottingham City Council have refused to recommend a report that proposed £20m in budget cuts.

Senior members of cash-strapped Nottingham City Council have refused to recommend a report that proposed £20m in budget cuts.

Council leader David Mellen said the majority Labour administration had decided there was ‘little to recommend' in a report that proposed cuts to library provision, the number of community protection officers and grants to the voluntary sector.

Officers had put forward the proposals in a bid to fill a £60m budget gap forecast for 2024-25 after being instructed by a Government-appointed improvement and assurance board to bring forward all savings they considered possible.

Cllr Mellen said this directive - a condition of receiving exceptional financial support - created what felt like a ‘no-win' situation for councillors.

However, he said the Labour group would ‘seriously consider' the council's duty to agree a balanced budget at a meeting next month.

In November, Nottingham issued a section 114 notice due to its inability to deliver a balanced budget for the 2023-24 financial year.

FINANCE

West and North Northamptonshire deserve equivalent debt forgiveness to Surrey

By Cllr Mark Arnull | 06 November 2025

Cllr Mark Arnull explains why the Government must extend equivalent debt forgiveness to West and North Northamptonshire as offered to Surrey, and ensure fair...

FINANCE

Birmingham s114 notice comes under fresh scrutiny

By Izzy Lepone | 03 November 2025

Financial experts have called for a public inquiry into Birmingham City Council’s decision to issue a section 114 notice.

FINANCE

Adding up the price of local government interventions

By Dan Peters | 30 October 2025

As more councils in intervention increases, the price tag for commissioners is skyrocketing. Dan Peters crunches the numbers and commissioner Gavin Jones exp...

FINANCE

Coaching the public sector's future

By Rebecca Davis | 30 October 2025

Rebecca Davis explains why every leader needs time to think – and how structured, high-quality coaching is already having an impact across the West Midlands.

Popular articles by Ellie Ames