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There was encouraging news about the Council’s financial position this week with a report to our Executive Board which showed the budget gap for next year has reduced by two thirds due to major improvements and efficiencies being implemented or planned.
The latest budget position for 2025/26 shows a projected budget deficit of £23.4 million, down from the £69 million gap forecast in June of last year. The cumulative budget gap over the period of Council’s 4-year Medium Term Financial Plan to 2028/29 has reduced from £172 million forecast last year to £56.8 million.
The reduced budget gap is the result of the significant work we have been undertaking to get our house in order, by delivering fundamental transformational change rather than one off solutions.
This has been achieved through making major changes to become more efficient, working to put the Council on a solid financial footing for the future, the much improved financial settlement which Nottingham is to receive from the Government, which includes an extra £30 plus million for next year, has also had a positive impact on our financial position, the establishment of better grip on our finances and working together in a one council approach embedding transformational change following key appointments in the corporate leadership team over the last 8 months. All of which is part of our journey to become a renewed council, that delivers for local people and leads Nottingham forward.
There is still much work to do, and the Council still faces significant challenges, but the budget proposals we have recently consulted on will underpin the continued improvement we will be making in the way we manage our finances.
Earlier this week, I joined a workshop with the Council’s Chief Executive, Sajeeda Rose and our Lead Commissioner, Tony McArdle along with staff at all levels involved in providing adult social care services on behalf of the authority. It was an opportunity to learn more about how assessments are carried out to ensure people receive the right level of care. I found the session insightful, gaining a clearer understanding of how the process works and the steps involved in ensuring effective care delivery.
Monday 27 January is Holocaust Memorial Day, which this year marks 80 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
Nottingham will mark this occasion with the lighting of a candle by Council Leaders on the steps of the Council House at 8pm on 27 January to reflect on the Holocaust genocide and mark the 80th anniversary of Holocaust Memorial Day, which everyone is welcome to attend.
Read more here
The arrangements for concessionary travel for older and disabled people have been approved for 2025/26 by Nottingham City Council at its Executive Board meeting.
A nationwide scheme – the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS) gives older and disabled residents free off-peak bus travel, between 9.30am – 11pm weekdays and all day on weekends.
Nottingham City Council is continuing to go above and beyond this statutory duty to provide:
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free travel on the tram for city residents during the same period as per ENCTS conditions. The tram is fully accessible with low floors and level boarding, which is important for older and disabled residents
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a companion travel facility attached to passes issued for city residents who are sight impaired, have a severe walking disability or a severe learning disability and would have difficulty travelling alone
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free travel on the bus or tram for disabled city residents before 9:30am on This is funded using Bus Services Improvement Plan funding
Nottingham City Council Leader and Executive Member for Strategic Regeneration, Transport and Communications, Councillor Neghat Khan said: “Going above and beyond our statutory duty to provide concessionary travel is part of our commitment to a world-class public transport network which works for our residents.”
“As well as extending the scheme to tram as well as bus travel and providing a companion pass for disabled people who would have difficulty travelling alone, thanks to BSIP funding, we are able to provide our disabled residents have access to both bus and tram travel free before 9.30am, opening up opportunities for them to access work, leisure and community while getting around in a green way.”
Thank you for your patience as our teams have continued work on kerbs and footpath paving as part of the Maid Marian Way project. The new area of public realm is beginning to take shape - follow Transport Nottingham on Facebook or Twitter for the latest.
Following the Maid Marian Way kerb works, the team will begin to lay kerbs on Upper Parliament Street - as with Maid Marian Way, our team will need to close a lane to allow for safe working. We'll keep you updated with all the latest info for those travelling through the area on our project page.
Visitors spent an estimated £10million at Nottingham’s historic Goose Fair last autumn (Friday 27 September – Sunday 6 October at the Forest Recreation Ground).
Despite the tram strike on the first day of the fair, and torrential rain mid-week, we welcomed 493,200 visitors across the ten days. Saturday 5 October was the busiest day, with fine weather attracting 110,442 people to the event. On average each person spent approximately £20 during their visit.
In a post-event visitor survey, attendees were asked about their spending at the fair. It is estimated that £1.2million was spent on transport, £2.9million on food and drink, and £5.9million on rides and attractions. This generated a significant economic uplift for the city, bringing more local and regional visitors to the area and increasing transport usage across Nottingham. Data shows that 72% of attendees were from Nottinghamshire, and 28% were visitors from the rest of the East Midlands and further afield.
Since 2022 Goose Fair has been held over ten days. Approximately 100,000 more visitors have attended the fair each year since the last five-day event in 2019. Discussions are continuing between the Council and the Showmen’s Guild for a decision on the 2025 event.
Read more here
Nottingham City Council is excited to announce the re-launch of e-scooters across the city. Dott has been chosen to operate the e-scooter scheme in Nottingham, offering a greener travel option to help take cars off our roads and improve air quality. The striking blue and red e-scooters are approved by the Department for Transport (DfT) and are used in other UK cities such as Bristol and Milton Keynes. The e-scooters are expected to be on the streets in early spring 2025 and will join e-bikes already available to hire.
Around 1300 e-scooters will be available to hire from approximately 300 mandatory parking locations across the city.
Read more here
Nottingham’s fantastic Green Heart has been shortlisted for a national award.
It will compete against four other cities in the Public Spaces category of the Pineapple Awards 2025, which are run by The Developer magazine.
The submission was put together and submitted by Townshend Landscape Architects who worked closely with Nottingham City Council on the bold development to create more green space on the site of the former Broad Marsh shopping centre.
More here...
After final safety checks and testing at Queens Drive park-and-ride after recent flooding, the site has now reopened this morning (24 January).
Thanks for your patience.
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