Additional funding is earmarked to enhance Nottingham’s conditions
The Council House, Old Market Square, Nottingham.
Greater efforts are required to ensure Nottingham is more presentable and secure – this is the view of the city’s political leader as further investment approaches.
Annually, those residing throughout Nottingham’s 20 electoral divisions are consulted on the local authority’s advancement toward ongoing enhancement, as part of what the administration terms its ‘Future Council Conversation’ initiative.
Additional discussions are being arranged throughout the city with local residents following worries about inadequate engagement on pivotal choices like the annual budget, ensuring more individuals feel their input matters.
Another questionnaire is being conducted this year.
At a gathering to review the council’s progress on Wednesday (July 29), Bulwell representative Michael Savage (Lab) questioned whether any emerging patterns from the programme might influence future strategic planning.
James Rhodes, the council’s deputy chief executive, confirmed there were, noting from recollection that neighbourhood importance frequently surfaces, pavements is invariably a popular talking point, and cleanliness generates significant discussion.
Cllr Neghat Khan (Lab), the council’s leader, acknowledged that considerable additional work remains regarding safety and cleanliness throughout neighbourhoods.
In 2023, when the council announced it was effectively insolvent amid severe financial difficulties, street cleaning was reduced to merely four occasions annually.
Previously, this work occurred once every 10 days.
The complement of frontline Community Protection Officers was similarly diminished from 100 full-time roles to 76 in 2020 as part of austerity measures, before being lowered still further to just 36.
Nevertheless, the council has since managed to substantially reduce its borrowing and now possesses a considerably stronger financial position, resulting in a multi-million pound reinvestment into street cleaning and combating anti-social conduct.
Cllr Khan told fellow councillors that the council held its session in Dales and residents were discussing cleanliness and safety. She said the council recognises it must accomplish considerably more in this sphere. She explained that some of this isn’t solely the council’s responsibility – it’s about that collaborative approach; how they engage with police and other partners to ensure people don’t feel that expecting cleanliness and safety is unreasonable. She stated it’s about ensuring this becomes routine practice and the expected standard across every area of the city.
Cllr Maria Joannou (Lab) observed that the council has performed poorly at administering resident surveys and typically neglects to inquire what inhabitants consider their community requires. She continued saying the council cannot deliver services based on assumptions about what residents require – they must engage with people properly. She noted they have been quite poor at this and need to improve at holding discussions with residents. She said they simply aren’t doing so and are still far from achieving that, truthfully.
Cllr Khan responded that this was a valid observation. She believed what the council has pursued is shifting towards examining outcomes and tangible impact, and what genuinely creates change, rather than attempting to tackle everything. She explained that as part of the survey being circulated this year – she is currently reviewing the questions – they are asking inhabitants how they view their neighbourhoods, whether they believe the council provides the services they require, and what services they think should be delivered.