The civil and Council functions are, of course, an important part of the Council House, but they are by no means the whole. The frieze around the exterior of the great dome (seen by looking upwards from Exchange Arcade) proclaims: "The Corporation of Nottingham erected this building for Counsel and Welcome to show Merchandise and Crafts". The city recognises that its prosperity depends upon its commerce and industry, and proclaims the fact to all. The market may have left the square, the Shambles may have been demolished, but Nottingham acknowledges its debt by providing shops and other business premises in its most spending building.

Nottingham people were not surprised when the Times, in its obituary on the architect who designed the Council House, concluded that it was "probably still the finest municipal building outside London".

This masterpiece of twentieth century architecture is in the tradition of many fine buildings in and around Nottingham, all of which express the nature of the city as a thriving industrial and commercial centre with strong sense of civic pride.