Nottingham now top performing core city

COUNCIL LEADER SAYS LESS THAN MAXIMUM TAX RISE SHOWS THAT AUTHORITY HAS 'TURNED THE CORNER'

- By JOSEPH LOCKER Local democracy reporter

NOTTINGHAM now has the best financial performance out of 12 key cities in the UK, a council official has claimed.

Nottingham City Council has proposed a 3.5% tax rise from April, the first time in 18 years it has increased it by less than the maximum. The Labour-led authority has been increasing council tax by the maximum allowed amount of 4.99% since 2008.

A £25m investment in frontline services - including bringing back services axed under previous budget cuts, such as neighbourhood safety officers - has also been promised. It comes after the authority's fortunes were turned around over two years, following it declaring effective bankruptcy in November 2023.

The council also received an extra £10m in funding from the Labour Government as part of its fairer funding review, which has directed more resources to areas with greater deprivation and those hardest hit by austerity.