balanced budget Council sets

and four-year financial plan

The council has set a balanced budget for 2023/24 and Medium-Term Financial Plan through to 2026/27.

Proposals approved by councillors at a meeting of the Full Council on 6 March closed an overall budget gap for the next financial year of £32.2m. Like other similar authorities, the council faces significant financial pressures. We are committed to delivering our transformation programme and are investing to improve financial management. Over the period of the Medium-term Financial Plan, over £10m of transformation investment is identified to radically change the way the council operates, helping to achieve almost £60m of savings.

A range of proposals affecting services form part of the proposed budget including:

Changes to adult social care, including more independent living support instead of residential or nursing care and reviewing fees

Charges for parking, cremation and burials, leisure centres and cafes

Reviewing grants to community groups, community centres and cultural organisations

Stopping collection of household bins put out on the wrong day.

Council commits to improvement journey in response to Improvement & Assurance Board Instructions

The council has set out its commitment to bring about further improvements needed following the Government’s decision that an independent Improvement and Assurance Board would remain in place without commissioners being appointed. Instructions have been issued by the Improvement and Assurance Board, led by Sir Tony Redmond, to bring about change at an increased pace in a number of key areas.

The Instructions cover specific areas of the council’s work – Governance, Finance, Transformation, Corporate Planning, Companies and Workforce Culture and Performance Outcomes.

Council Tax in 2023/24 will rise by the full 4.99% permitted under Government proposals – made up of 2.99% Council Tax and a further 2% precept specifically towards Adult Social Care costs.

Nottingham has one of the lowest council tax bases in the country for its population size, with 80% of homes in the two lowest Council Tax bands – almost twice the national average. This means the council increase would equate to between

The City Council’s Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Cllr Adele Williams, said:

“Like all councils, businesses and households, the City Council’s finances have been impacted by the cost-of-living crisis created by soaring inflation on pay, fuel and energy costs. Other pressures, including vastly diminished Government grants over the last 13 years, have also made this another challenging year to set

Council Leader, Cllr David Mellen, said:

The Government’s decision not to appoint commissioners is a reflection of the significant progress we have already made, including setting a balanced budget and four-year financial plan. However, there is much more work to do to bring about the improvements needed, and we need to bring about the changes quickly. The Improvement and Assurance Board has clearly set out the areas where further change is needed and when this needs to have happened by. Most of these reflect the recommendations in previous reports. Our task now is to finish the job we have started to ensure the council can continue to provide vital services to the people of Nottingham in an efficient and effective way.

The council’s Chief Executive, Mel Barrett, said:

The Instructions are entirely consistent with our Together for Nottingham Plan and the previous areas of focus identified by the Improvement and Assurance Board. However, Sir Tony Redmond has now made the outcomes being sought an Instruction to the council. This is because, whilst we have made significant improvements, we have not made the full range of necessary improvements quickly enough.

Seen as a whole, the Instructions amount to a requirement for fundamental change in the way the council works, to become an authority that delivers Best Value, consistent with good practice elsewhere in local government. We are committed to making these changes by the deadlines set and we will ensure improvements are made at pace.