Nottingham City Council has published the results of its recent budget consultation, setting out what residents have said matters most to them.
The views will be help shape the next stage of decision-making on the Council’s budget for 2026/27, which this week received a boost when the Labour Government announced details of the financial settlement each authority across the country will receive next year.
Early indications are very positive for Nottingham, with core spending power more closely linked to levels of need in the city.
The Council is now carefully reviewing what this means for Nottingham and future budget planning to support the core missions set out in the Council Plan – to create a renewed council that delivers for local people and leads Nottingham forward. More more information to be shared in the New Year.
The six-week budget consultation included an online survey, in-person and online engagement events. Residents highlighted clear priorities for making Nottingham a good place to live, including:
- tackling anti-social behaviour and reducing crime
- keeping streets and public areas clean and tidy
- maintaining roads and pavements
- improving public transport and neighbourhood safety
- protecting support for vulnerable people
Many respondents also shared detailed views on proposed savings and investment areas, stressing the importance of safeguarding essential services, maintaining visible frontline provision and ensuring investment is felt fairly across all neighbourhoods.
Councillor Ethan Radford, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Finance and Resources, said: “The funding boost from the Labour Government will go a long way to reverse over a decade of funding cuts to Nottingham, while also enabling us as a council to improve local services and meet the needs of our people.
The Council’s finances are stable, we are getting control of our overspends and have a much firmer grip on our finances.
“This means that we can focus the additional funding Nottingham is to receive from the Labour Government next year on further investment in the things that matter most to residents. As we do this, we remain committed to engaging with them on how we make decisions.
“While we were not required to consult at this stage of the budget process, we wanted to engage with residents and be totally transparent with them, its their money and they have a right to know how the council spend it. This builds on the Future Council Conversation, where residents told us what matters most in their neighbourhoods and across the city.
“Residents have again reinforced the importance of priorities such as cleaner streets, safer communities and protecting support for vulnerable people. Their views will help inform the next stage of budget decision-making, and this engagement will continue as we move forward and deliver for local people.”
The budget consultation also builds on feedback gathered through the Council’s wider Future Council Conversations programme, helping ensure residents’ priorities are reflected consistently across decision-making.
The full consultation findings will be published on the Engage Nottingham Hub following completion of the Council’s governance process. Further engagement with residents will take place in 2026, including feedback on budget outcomes and opportunities to shape future priorities.