Nottinghamshire County Council’s Full Council meeting on 26 February will also consider an alternative budget amendment submitted by the Conservative Group, proposing changes to spending plans, capital investment and council tax levels for 2026/27.
Key points:
Alternative £874.8m revenue budget proposed
Council tax rise reduced to 2.99%
£25m adult social care invest-to-save programme
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New SEND hubs and expanded highways investment
Significant reliance on asset disposals including County Hall
Officers say proposals lawful but higher risk to deliver
The amendment proposes setting a revenue budget of £874.8 million, lower than the administration’s proposed figure, alongside a reduced council tax increase of 2.99 per cent for the year. The group says the lower rise would be funded through additional savings, accelerated asset sales and invest-to-save programmes.
A central element of the proposal is a programme to move working-age adults from residential care into supported living accommodation using property purchases, adaptations and technology-enabled care. Around 313 residents under 50 currently live in residential care at an estimated annual cost of £45 million. The plan includes £25 million capital investment over three years and forecasts savings of £2.3 million in 2026/27 rising to £10 million annually thereafter.
The amendment also proposes creating special educational needs and disabilities hubs across the county using modular buildings, with five sites beginning in 2026/27 and a further 15 in 2027/28. Each hub would accommodate up to 16 pupils. While additional running costs are expected, the aim is to reduce reliance on distant placements and shorten travel distances for families.
A major highways programme forms another key part of the proposal, including additional capital spending of £15 million in 2026/27, £30 million in 2027/28 and £25 million in 2028/29. The group links this to drainage improvements, flood prevention and pothole reduction, and estimates potential revenue savings from fewer reactive repairs over time.
Other measures in the amendment include purchasing additional parking enforcement vehicles to target unsafe parking around schools, expanding councillor divisional funds, and a solar panel installation scheme on council buildings intended to generate energy savings and income in later years.
The proposal also relies heavily on selling council assets. A review identified about £103 million of surplus land and property, with disposals planned to raise £30 million in 2026/27, £30 million in 2027/28 and £40 million in 2028/29. This includes the proposed disposal and redevelopment of the County Hall site and car park, alongside plans to relocate staff to Oak House and vacate Trent Bridge House, generating operating cost savings.
Council finance officers say the amendment meets legal budget-setting requirements but carries a higher level of delivery risk because of the scale of asset sales and reliance on achieving projected savings, particularly in adult social care. They also note the proposals would require accelerated implementation compared with previous council programmes.
If adopted, the amendment would replace the main budget recommendations and set the council’s financial framework for the coming year.
Cllr Sam Smith, Conservative Leader of the Opposition, said:
“This is Reform’s broken promise budget. They said they would freeze Council Tax. Instead, they’re demanding £20 million more with a 3.99% increase – even after receiving a £78 million boost in funding from Government.
“Instead, our Conservative alternative budget focuses on putting money into tarmac, not leaving it sitting in the bank. We’ll prioritise resurfacing on residential streets while Reform patch up their car park and we’re giving £5 million back to residents this year. Even Labour-run Nottingham City Council – with all of its financial problems – have managed a lower Council Tax increase than Reform. If they can’t deliver on their promises with this level of extra Government funding, residents are right to ask what exactly Reform were elected to do?”
