Former Sheriff of Nottingham Zafran Khan says he disagrees with an investigation that has concluded there have been breaches of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct.
According to Nottingham City Council’s records, a “misuse of position” complaint was first received on September 18 last year.
The council’s monitoring officer decided the complaint warranted a formal investigation, and an independent investigator was appointed.
The investigating officer has now concluded “the city councillor breached the Code of Conduct in respect of Gifts and Hospitality, Use of Position and Disrepute”, according to council documents published ahead of a hearing on Thursday (October 15).
Cllr Khan says that he disagrees with the conclusion, and he denies any wrongdoing.
The full report by the independent investigator is currently exempt from public viewing.
During the Standards and Governance Committee hearing, the officer will present the findings and conclusion and call on any witnesses.
The subject member will then be given the chance to present their case.
Members will consider whether there has been a breach and, subject to a finding of a breach of the code, determine what, if any, sanction should be imposed.
However, members of the committee will first determine whether the hearing should be held in public.
Cllr Khan, who was elected as a Labour councillor for Wollaton West in 2019, held the civic role during 2025/26, up until May this year, when he was replaced by Councillor Audrey Dinnall.
The role exists to promote the city as a destination, and the Sheriff typically attends all manner of events to welcome visitors to the city.
While no longer the Sheriff, Cllr Khan was this year appointed as chair of the Appointments and Conditions of Service Committee (ACOS), which determines local terms and conditions of council employees and procedures for disciplinary action and dismissal.
He is the brother of the council’s leader, Neghat Khan. There is no suggestion she has done anything wrong or is connected to the investigation in any way.
Details surfaced in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, which was submitted to the council in October 2025, asking for correspondence relating to the repair or servicing of the Sheriff’s privately owned vehicle and any “complaints or reports of the use of civic office for personal benefit”.
The FOI request, which was submitted anonymously, asked for “correspondence related to the vehicle, copies of any correspondence (including but not limited to emails, letters, and internal communications) sent from or received by the Sheriff of Nottingham or held by Nottingham City Council from 1 April 2025 to date, relating to the Sheriff’s private (personally owned) vehicle – in particular, include any correspondence with Jaguar Land Rover, Land Rover UK, or other car dealers/manufacturers, or any other party about its repair or servicing”.
It further asked for “copies of any complaints, reports, investigations, or internal/external correspondence received or created by Nottingham City Council from 1 April 2025 to date relating to the Sheriff of Nottingham (or any civic office holder) allegedly obtaining or seeking free or discounted goods, services, or hospitality by using their civic office, regalia, or title”.
In a response to the request, the council said it determined it was “not appropriate to neither confirm nor deny whether we hold the requested information”.
This, the response adds, is because confirming or denying the information is held “would itself prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs.”
A council spokesperson previously said: “This matter is under review and this is expected to be completed soon.
“All issues relating to the conduct of councillors or employees are always subject to thorough investigation by the council in order to understand the circumstances and decide whether any further action may be required.”
