Nottingham City Council is set to invest millions of pounds into a wide range of frontline services, including free swimming for children, free bulky waste collections and expanded street cleaning, as part of plans to deliver its corporate priorities.
A report due before the council’s Executive Board on 21 April outlines how £7.6m of additional funding identified in the 2026/27 budget could be used to support a series of service improvements aligned with the authority’s Council Plan for 2025 to 2029.
The funding became available following what the council describes as a strong financial position and a favourable multi-year funding settlement, allowing resources to be directed towards new or expanded services rather than being held for savings or contingency.
Councillors are being asked to approve an initial package of proposals worth £3.003m in 2026/27, rising to £3.771m in subsequent years, with a further £3.829m still available for future decisions. The report also proposes just over £1m in one-off capital spending, largely to fund vehicles and equipment needed to deliver the new services.
The proposals cover a broad range of areas, with a focus on cost-of-living support, environmental improvements and access to services. Among the measures is a plan to introduce free swimming for under-16s during school holidays at council-run leisure centres from July 2026. The scheme is intended to improve access for children from lower-income families and address inequalities in participation, with a full-year cost estimated at £243,000.
Another proposal would reintroduce free bulky waste collections, allowing residents to dispose of large household items such as furniture without charge. The council says this is aimed at tackling fly-tipping and encouraging proper disposal, although it carries a risk of increased demand and loss of existing income from paid collections.
Support for households is also included through plans to provide free sanitary products at libraries, leisure centres and other public buildings, and to fund a citywide school uniform scheme giving families access to lower-cost or reused clothing through an online platform.
A significant proportion of the funding is earmarked for environmental services. This includes enhanced deep cleaning of the city centre and neighbourhood shopping areas, extended street cleaning hours into evenings and weekends, and the introduction of regular cleaning of internal estate footpaths, which currently receive little or no routine maintenance. The council says these measures are intended to improve public health, reduce complaints and increase civic pride, particularly in high-footfall and more deprived areas.
The report also includes investment in economic development and employment initiatives, including funding for additional staff to support job creation and skills programmes, and a new apprenticeship grant scheme aimed at creating around 175 opportunities over two years. The council says this builds on a recent increase in apprenticeship numbers within its own workforce.
Further proposals include expanding customer service provision, with more face-to-face support at Loxley House and increased contact centre capacity to assist residents who are digitally excluded, and a programme of events and activities designed to boost civic pride and community engagement across the city.
The funding proposals have been developed through a business case process assessing factors such as value for money, deliverability and alignment with council priorities. If approved, the schemes will be incorporated into the council’s in-year delivery plan for 2026/27 and monitored as part of its wider performance framework.
The report makes clear that this is the first phase of investment, with further proposals expected to come forward using the remaining available funding. Final approval of the capital budget increase will also require agreement from full council.
For residents, the plans would mean a mix of direct financial support, expanded access to services and visible changes in areas such as street cleanliness and community provision. However, some proposals carry risks around demand, costs and delivery capacity, which the council says will be monitored as schemes are implemented.
