Councillor Neghat Khan looks back on a year of progress and improvement at the Council since becoming Leader in May 2024.
“This week I have been reflecting on my first year serving as Leader of Nottingham City Council. I feel the same sense of pride and determination that I felt when I was first elected – and yet so much has happened in Nottingham, local government and across the country. The former Prime Minister Harold Wilson famously said, “a week is a long time in politics” and that certainly feels the case.
“When I was first elected in May 2024 to lead this great city, it is no exaggeration to say that we were at a critical point in our Council’s history. It wasn’t going to be an easy task.
“I went into this with my eyes open knowing the pressures facing our city, but Nottingham deserves a council that wants to make our city an even better place – who will continue to set an ambitious vision for our city and find innovative ways of delivering it.
“I have remained undeterred, and hugely ambitious for Nottingham and for all who live, work and visit here. Facing challenges doesn’t mean we can’t be ambitious. They mean we can’t afford not to be.
“My commitment from day one has been to get our house in order so we can get back to delivering for residents, enabling and empowering our communities, providing safe and affordable housing, enhancing education and skills and working with partners across our city to put Nottingham first.
“That has required tough decisions, but what the last twelve months has demonstrated to me, is that not only have we recognised the need to change, but we have started to embrace it – for the better.
“We have made good progress in getting our house in order. We’ve developed a Strategic Council Plan, Medium-Term Financial Plan and Improvement Plan, all of which demonstrates our commitment to setting strong foundations upon which to renew our Council for the benefit of Nottingham people.
“As Leader of the Council, I have embedded a new Executive leadership team all of whom are focussed on moving the Council towards a more sustainable future and I am confident that we will continue to work together for the best interests of our residents.
“Throughout the year, we’ve worked hard to deliver on that promise. We’ve invested in critical frontline services, supported families facing hardship, and pressed ahead with our plans to create a greener, safer, and more inclusive city. Whether it’s been expanding free school meals provision during the holidays, supporting our local businesses, or progressing with key regeneration projects — our focus has remained firmly on building a better Nottingham for all.
“As Leader, I want people to see and feel the changes being delivered by the Council. People should be able to look out of their window and see things happening and be proud that it’s happening in Nottingham. For example, we’re building new homes right across the city, we’ve invested over £11m in improving roads, footpaths and cycle ways, we’ve filled over 13,000 potholes in twelve months and retrofitted 13,000 homes in Nottingham reducing energy bills for local people. These things matter to local people and will always matter to the Council. Having opened a brand-new Central Library in Nottingham, we have welcomed nearly 400,000 visitors to the site since opening in November 2023 and we will continue to transform the space around the Broad Marsh with exciting plans for the future.
“Of course, none of this progress would be possible without the people who make this city so special. I’ve spent time this year visiting vital services, meeting with voluntary organisations, listening to residents, and working with businesses. What I hear, time and again, is that Nottingham is a place of extraordinary energy, creativity, and compassion. Behind all of this, is a fantastic workforce committed to delivering real change for Nottingham and I am incredibly proud to lead the Council.
“Looking ahead, I can’t pretend the road gets any easier. Nottingham is not unique in many of its challenges – like councils across the country, we are navigating a difficult financial landscape with rising demand for services, and an increasing cost of living. The way we deliver services has had to change. We have had to adapt and be honest about the changes we needed to make.
“But in facing the challenges there are opportunities to embrace in equal measure. Nottingham sits at the heart of the East Midlands and together with partners across the Combined Authority, we play a vital role in regional place leadership. With our outstanding transport infrastructure, the city is a hub for enterprise, investment and innovation, all of which are key drivers for growth. In recent memory, the city has undergone significant change including a £50m investment into the new library, car park and bus station, a £58m college hub for Nottingham college and £25m invested in public realm, including the development of a new urban park in the heart of the City Centre – the Green Heart.
“And anyone who knows Nottingham knows that at the heart of all of this is the Broad Marsh, a 20-acre site which has provided an opportunity to reimagine the city centre. The vision provides a mixed-use opportunity for over 1,000 new homes, 2,000 new jobs and up to 20,000 square metres of retail. Our partnership with Homes England is a landmark moment for the city, and will enable us to reimagine our unique cityscape.
“Looking ahead, my pledge as Leader remains the same. To deliver our core mission as a local council and provide the best services we can for the residents of Nottingham. We have a lot to be proud of in Nottingham, and if we can renew our council, deliver for our residents and lead Nottingham forward we can achieve so much more to be proud of in the years ahead.”