The Government?s announcement yesterday that it is minded to appoint commissioners to take over some of the council?s decision-making functions is disappointing in light of the improvements we have been making.

We have been working positively with the Improvement and Assurance Board and its chair Sir Tony Redmond, who the Government has now proposed as the lead commissioner. This, and the fact that commissioners have been appointed for two years rather than the normal three, is recognition of the progress we have already made over the last 18 months.

As part of this work, we have already taken swift and direct action to address the Housing Revenue Account issues we discovered, including seeking the necessary ministerial direction to pay the money back into the HRA. It?s therefore disappointing that this issue has led to the Government taking the action it has. But we remain committed to continue carrying out any further improvements we need to make.

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We?re really pleased to announce today a new and exciting skateboarding area as part of the wider Broad Marsh redevelopment works.

It?s being constructed off Sussex Street and is an innovative way of using available space. Local young people have been involved in the design process and we?ve teamed up with Skate Nottingham and Skateboard GB to deliver the project.

The area in in front of the new Nottingham College building has undergone a complete makeover through Transforming Cities-funded improvements to streets around the new Broad Marsh car park, bus station and Central Library building.

It has been turned from a piece of scrubland beneath the tram viaduct and an unwelcoming pedestrian route into a pleasant space with plenty of plants and grass, paved areas, large tables and seating and amphitheatre steps.

More information here

The City Council has brought in over ?30m of income from selling land and property it owns over the last two years ? with over ?90m more in the pipeline over the next few years.

Selling property and land that we own and no longer require is one of the ways we can bring money into the council at a time when our Government grant is drastically reduced. The City Council is also striving to reduce its debt levels as part of our Together for Nottingham Plan.

We are not selling things in an unplanned way ? it is properly assessed and we seek to sell it for as much as possible, unless they are community assets where there is some social value to be gained. Most of the properties that bring in larger amounts are commercial properties rather than community assets.

Find out more here

Three thousand free tickets are up for grabs for Nottingham residents to attend the Queen?s Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games (Birmingham 2022) when it comes to the city on Sunday 10 July.

This is the 16th official Queen?s Baton Relay ? a journey which brings together and celebrates communities across the Commonwealth during the build up to the Games which commence on Thursday 28 July.

To celebrate the baton visiting Nottingham, there will be an event at Nottingham Castle with music, entertainment, and the baton itself being handed over. The Castle will be closed to usual visitors all day, but this free event is open to anybody living in the city, will be by ticket only, and limited to six per household.

Click here for further details including how to book tickets