The Government has published a ministerial response to the fourth report from Nottingham City Council’s commissioners, confirming that while substantial progress has been made in the authority’s recovery, further statutory oversight is likely to continue for a limited period.
In a letter dated 4 February 2026, Alison McGovern MP, Minister of State for Local Government and Homelessness, thanked the commissioners for their report of 5 December 2025 and for their ongoing work with the council, noting that both the report and the ministerial response have been published together.
The minister said the Government is encouraged by the progress Nottingham City Council has made since February 2024, particularly in strengthening senior leadership, improving strategic direction, stabilising financial procedures, strengthening governance and rebuilding working relationships. She acknowledged that the commissioners have been able to begin stepping back from day-to-day involvement since November 2025, with the council taking greater ownership of its operations.
While welcoming the assessment that strong foundations are now in place, the minister said the council remains at an early stage in its recovery. She highlighted the commissioners’ conclusion that sustained focus will be required to embed continuous improvement and deliver transformational change, especially in children’s and adults’ services.
The letter confirms that the Secretary of State has considered the fourth report alongside other relevant information, including representations from the council itself. He is satisfied that Nottingham City Council has made substantial progress across most of the Best Value themes and that its leadership has the capacity to drive ongoing improvement. However, he considers that the council is not yet meeting its statutory Best Value Duty in two areas: Continuous Improvement and Service Delivery.
As a result, the Secretary of State is minded to provide a further, but reduced, package of statutory support for a period of 18 months, with a formal review after 12 months. Under the proposal, updated Directions would be issued under the Local Government Act 1999, focusing on the development and implementation of a Continuous Improvement Plan. This plan would be supported by a committee that includes some external members with relevant subject expertise.
The proposed arrangements would differ from the current commissioner model. All powers currently held by commissioners to take decisions on behalf of the council would return to Nottingham City Council when the existing Directions, issued in February 2024, come to an end. Instead, progress would be overseen by two Ministerial Envoys appointed by the Secretary of State, working collaboratively with the council in an advisory capacity. The envoys would be required to provide six-monthly progress reports to the Secretary of State.
The Government is seeking representations on these proposals by 11 February 2026, after which final decisions will be made and announced as soon as practicable. Until then, the minister said the Government expects Nottingham City Council to continue to engage constructively with the commissioners as required.
The response marks a potential next phase in the council’s improvement journey, signalling a move away from direct intervention towards advisory oversight, while making clear that the Government believes further work is needed before full compliance with Best Value duties can be confirmed.
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