Future budgets will address 'short-sighted' past decisions

CITY COUNCIL'S DEPUTY LEADER VOWS PROCESS WILL HAVE GREATER TRANSPARENCY

- By JOE LOCKER Local democracy reporter

NOTTINGHAM City Council's deputy leader has promised the authority will be more transparent in the way it sets its budget each year, after admitting to “short-sighted decisions” and confusing language in the past.

The Labour-led council declared itself effectively bankrupt in November 2023, after it was unable to set a balanced budget.

Government commissioners were appointed in February last year to oversee moves towards better financial sustainability. Both the commissioners and some city councillors have previously found issues with the budget-setting process.

Councillors’ concerns have included a lack of transparency stemming from “abstract” language in consultations, as well as documents being presented to them with little time for proper scrutiny.