An investigation has found former Sheriff of Nottingham Zafran Khan abused his position to claim free Tate MacRae gig tickets and repairs to his Land Rover.
Nottingham City Council’s Standards and Governance Committee made the decision to release the full report detailing how Mr Khan abused his position to obtain gig tickets, car repairs and hospitality.
Cllr Khan has denied any wrongdoing and said “his position was that he abided by the rules as he genuinely understood them to be.”
He initially stated he was not aware of his Code of Conduct until around September last year, but having reflected further “expressed that, even if he had been aware, he had not fully understood it”.
A “misuse of position” complaint was first received on September 18 last year, and a Standards and Governance Committee convened on Thursday (October 15) to consider the investigation, which had concluded there had been several breaches.
The investigation, conducted by legal firm Bevan Brittan, found Mr Khan had breached the Code of Conduct in respect of gifts and hospitality, use of position and disrepute”.
It said he had contacted Stratstone Jaguar Land Rover in August last year, complaining his Land Rover had broken down, using his council email.
The email was signed off with “Sheriff of Nottingham 2025/26” and “Wollaton West Councillor”.
He had been initially quoted £30,000 for the repairs, but after contact in his capacity as Sheriff he was quoted £4,983.01, saving him £22,500.
Bevan Brittan found he had breached the code by “seeking to use his position as Sheriff and or councillor to advantage himself” in relation to repairs to his Land Rover”, and that there was “no legitimate reason to do so”.
The report also details Mr Khan’s correspondence with the National Ice Centre to obtain four tickets to watch Tate MacRae on June 22 last year in the hospitality suites, six tickets to watch Paw Patrol on August 10 in the hospitality suites for his nephew’s birthday, and six tickets to watch the Nottingham Panthers on September 12.
Witness evidence from the chief executive of Nottingham Ice Centre Limited confirmed the council owns the ice centre and arena, and that he considers it important for councillors to understand the venue, and that this can only be done by them attending various events.
Mr Khan said he only toured the venue once – to see how it worked, but that he could not remember when this was.
But Bevan Brittan said once he had toured the venue, there was “unlikely to have been any wider benefit to the council arising from his subsequent visits”.
He initially did not declare the tickets at the time but later did “sometime after September 2025” when he said he understood that he should.
The report concluded there was a breach in the Code of Conduct by way of failing to declare a gift or hospitality with an estimated value of £25 within 28 days.
There was also a breach in respect of two of the visits where he did not tour the venue and so attended with several guests in a purely personal and not civic or councillor capacity… “which would give rise to real or substantial personal gain”.
It also concludes there was a breach of “use of position” on the basis he advantaged himself and his associates by securing complimentary tickets that were only available to councillors.
Cllr Khan further failed to declare his attendance at the opening of The Ivy restaurant in Bridlesmith Gate, as well as complimentary visits to Nottingham Racecourse and its hospitality suite with guests.
In relation to Nottingham Racecourse, the report says the evidence suggests two of the three visits – for a community day alongside Robin Hood Stakes and a visit with the Mayor and Mayoress of Gedling – “probably required” his attendance in a civic capacity, and no further breaches were found in relation to these visits.
Bevan Brittan found no breach in Mr Khan “trying to meet and host” Nottingham Forest’s owner, and “support for persons involved in court proceedings”.
During the Standards and Governance Committee hearing, the officer was due to present the findings and conclusion, and call on any witnesses.
The subject member would have then been given the chance to present their case.
Members would have considered whether there had been a breach and, subject to a finding of a breach of the code, determine what, if any, sanction should be imposed.
While the report was published, the meeting was abandoned to be rescheduled at a later date.
It is understood there were concerns of a judicial review, with one member of the hearing panel, Cllr Kirsty Jones (NPA), having spoken to the press before the hearing took place.
Cllr Jones said back in July: “It’s frustrating that the complaint about alleged misuse of position is taking so long to investigate when the public already has such low trust in politicians.
“People rightly ask whose interests are being served and see politicians using the position for themselves rather than for our communities, whether it’s allegations around Nottingham’s former Sheriff or Nigel Farage’s large donations.
“These investigations cannot be allowed to drag on indefinitely if we want to rebuild the public’s trust.”
During the hearing, Mr Khan’s legal representative said: “While I share Cllr Jones’ concern [that] the investigation has taken a long time, it is plain firstly the assumption that Cllr Khan has in fact misused his position, which is something you are meant to determine today, but secondly the comparison between Cllr Khan and the far more infamous Nigel Farage. We suggest that both of these comparisons are totally prejudicial and mean that you are not to sit on this panel in accordance with your own professional obligations.”
After seeking her own legal advice, Cllr Jones said she had made “no comment or pre-determination on the actual complaint” – and so she remained happy to sit on the panel.
Committee Chair Cllr Graham Chapman ultimately decided to abandon the meeting over concerns about “exposing the council to judicial review”, as well as the fact that three panel members felt they could not proceed under the circumstances.
The council has been approached for comment.
By Joe Locker Local Democracy Reporter