This consultation is Open
Consultation Open 20 October 2026 to 30 November 2026Over the last two years, the council has been working hard to get its house in order which, backed by an increase in funding from the Government, has resulted in a much-improved financial position. This has laid the foundations to enable us to build back Nottingham, putting more funding into the frontline services that matter most to local people while supporting the ambitious plans we have for the city set out in the new Nottingham Vision launched earlier this year.
Last year’s budget included an extra £25 million for frontline services while limiting our council tax increase to 3.5%, the lowest in 18 years. Since then, we have invested a further £20.4 million. You can find out more about these funding packages in the Frequently Asked Questions drop-down option below.
Have your say on our draft budget and council tax for 2027/28
The council has set out a draft budget for 2027/28 and a Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) which would deliver investment in services and balance the council budget, while also freezing council tax, meaning no increase next year.
We are now seeking the views of local residents, businesses and partner organisations as part of a 6-week consultation before the draft budget and MTFP are formally approved at a Full Council meeting in March next year.
While we’re confident we can balance the books without increasing council tax (subject to the UK Budget announcement due 28th Oct), we still want to give people the option to have their say on whether they want council tax to be increased, by how much, and how they would like the extra revenue raised to be spent.
Take part in our survey
Your views are important to us, and you can have your say using our survey questionnaire, which is open until 30th November.
Responses will be considered by the council’s Executive Board as part of the final budget setting in March 2027.
Take the survey
With the links below you can download and view the proposals. They are published separately as Savings proposals and Growth/Investment proposals.
Please view the full report here: committee.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/documents/g11754/Public reports pack 20th-Oct-2026 14.00 Executive Board.pdf?T=10
What is this consultation about?
Over the last two years, the council has been working hard to get its house in order which, backed by an increase in funding from the Government, has resulted in a much-improved financial position.
This has laid the foundations to enable us to build back Nottingham, putting more funding into the frontline services that matter most to local people while supporting the ambitious plans we have for the city set out in the new Nottingham Vision launched earlier this year.
The proposed draft budget for 2027-28 is now being consulted on with residents and stakeholders.
What is the Council’s current financial situation?
We are now a financially stable council following major improvements made over the last 12 to 18 months.
Council debt has reduced by almost a third since 2021, and only 17% of the Exceptional Financial Support earmarked at the start of the year has been used.
Like all local councils, we face significant financial challenges from things like increased demand for social care. We must also wait for the Government to confirm later this year how much funding local councils across the country will receive.
What has happened since last year’s budget?
Last year’s budget included an extra £25 million for frontline services while limiting our council tax increase to 3.5%, the lowest in 18 years.
Since then, we have invested a further £20.4 million in three separate funding packages:
April 2026
- Free bulky waste collection
- Street cleaning
- Free holiday swimming for under 16s
- Free period products
- School uniform support, apprenticeships and job
- Free events
May 2026
- Young People’s Jobs Fund
- Enhanced youth provision
- Free books for children
- A Nottingham Business Growth Service
- Welfare rights and support for families
- Cultural Investment Fund
- Resident engagement
September 2026
- Repairing potholes and improving roads
- Solar power, battery storage and other energy-saving measures to help reduce residents’ energy bills
- Creating greener spaces in the city centre and more trees and green spaces across Nottingham
- Free leisure membership to Nottingham residents of pensionable age
- Targeted business rates relief to support small businesses
- 20 additional Community Protection Officers
What is being proposed for next year's budget?
The council has set out a draft budget for 2027/28 and a Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) which would deliver investment in services and balance the council budget, while also freezing council tax, meaning no increase next year.
We are now seeking the views of local residents, businesses and partner organisations as part of a 6-week consultation before the draft budget and MTFP are formally approved at a Full Council meeting in March next year.
While we’re confident we can balance the books without increasing council tax (subject to the UK Budget announcement due 28th Oct), we still want to give people the option to have their say on whether they want council tax to be increased, by how much, and how they would like the extra revenue raised to be spent.
Each 1% increase in Council Tax would generate the following approximate additional recurring funding for Council services:
- 1.0% increase: £1.7m
- 2.0%: £3.4m
- 3.0%: £5.1m
- 4.0%: £6.8m
- 4.9%: £8.3m
Freezing council tax would result in the following annual savings for Nottingham households at the different bands:
|
Band |
Factor |
Proposed 27/28 Nottingham City Council Tax Element 0% Rise |
Proposed 27/28 Nottingham City Council Tax Element with 4.99% Uplift |
Proposed Total Increase charge foregone |
|
|
A |
6/9 |
£1,561.39 |
£1,639.30 |
£77.91 |
|
|
B |
7/9 |
£1,821.62 |
£1,912.52 |
£90.90 |
|
|
C |
8/9 |
£2,081.85 |
£2,185.73 |
£103.88 |
|
|
D |
9/9 |
£2,342.08 |
£2,458.95 |
£116.87 |
|
|
E |
11/9 |
£2,862.54 |
£3,005.38 |
£142.84 |
|
|
F |
13/9 |
£3,383.01 |
£3,551.82 |
£168.81 |
|
|
G |
15/9 |
£3,903.47 |
£4,098.25 |
£194.78 |
|
|
H |
18/9 |
£4,684.16 |
£4,917.90 |
£233.74 |
How can people have their say on the budget proposals?
You can have your say on the budget proposals using our online survey here
Paper copies are available at local Nottingham City libraries. To find your local branch click here: Find a Library | Nottingham City Libraries
If you need help with translation, or for any other queries please contact engage@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
A series of in-person and online consultation meetings will also take place throughout November where councillors and officers will discuss the proposals and answer questions. Details can be found on the event schedule on the Engage Nottingham Hub.
When will final decisions be made on the proposals?
Feedback from the consultation will be discussed by councillors at a meeting of the Executive Board in the New Year and this will help inform decisions made.
The Boards agreed budget recommendations are expected to go to Full Council for final approval in March 2027.
EIA's for the proposals can be viewed via the following link: EIA's
|
EVENT |
VENUE |
DATE |
TIME |
REGISTRATION |
| Online | Online via Microsoft Teams link | Wednesday 11th November | 6pm - 7pm | A link to join will be made available closer to the time of the event |
| Central Locality | Hyson Green Library - Mary Potter Centre | Tuesday 17th November | 5pm - 6:30pm |
Capacity is limited and pre-booking is strongly recommended - please book yourself a seat using this link. If you're unable to book online please ask at your local library and they will reserve you a seat. |
| South Locality | Clifton Library | Thursday 19th November | 12pm - 1:30pm |
Capacity is limited and pre-booking is strongly recommended - please book yourself a seat using this link If you're unable to book online please ask at your local library and they will reserve you a seat. |
| North Locality | Bulwell Riverside Library | Thursday 19th November | 5pm – 6.30pm |
Capacity is limited and pre-booking is strongly recommended - please book yourself a seat using this link If you're unable to book online please ask at your local library and they will reserve you a seat. |
Have your say on Nottingham’s proposed council tax freeze
Nottingham residents are being asked whether they support a proposed council tax freeze or would prefer an increase to fund further investment in frontline services.
The council is proposing to freeze council tax next year after making major improvements to its finances, but now wants residents to have their say on proposals.
Last year’s budget included an extra £25 million for frontline services while limiting a council tax increase to 3.5%, the lowest in 18 years. Since then, the council has invested a further £20.4 million in frontline services.
The council has set out a fully balanced draft budget for 2027/28 and a Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) which would see additional investment in services if approved, including more community protection officers and extending library opening hours, as well as significantly reducing council debt, all without the need to increase Council Tax.
Local residents, businesses and partner organisations can give their views on the proposals as part of a 6-week consultation including public meetings and a survey open until 30 November.
Although the draft budget is currently based on a zero increase in Council Tax, the council wants to use the consultation to set out how much additional funding for services could be raised by increasing Council Tax so residents can feed back whether they favour a freeze or increase.
-
Freezing council tax would result in annual savings of between £77.91 and £233.74 per household.
-
Increasing council tax by 1% would raise an extra £1.7 million to spend on services while a £4.99% increase would generate an extra £8.3 million in funding
Councillor Ethan Radford, the Council’s Deputy Leader, said:
“Over the last year we have invested £45m in Nottingham people and the services which local people have told us matter most, from fixing potholes and putting more community safety officers on the streets to free bulky waste collections, free holiday swimming for under 16s and free access to our leisure centres for older people.
“We have been able to do this thanks to our improved financial position and thanks to the increased funding from the Government. At the same time, we delivered the lowest council tax increase for 18 years, and now we are proposing to go even further than that.
“We are now in a position to deliver investment in services and balance the council budget, while also freezing council tax. This would mean no increase in council tax. As the council’s financial position becomes stronger, we believe it’s only right that those benefits are passed on to the Nottingham taxpayer. Freezing Council Tax will keep millions of pounds in the pockets of Nottingham households at a time when many are struggling with the cost of living.
“While we’re confident we can balance the books without increasing council tax, we still want to give residents the option to have their say on if they want us to raise council tax, if so by how much, and how they would like us to use that extra revenue if we were to.
“We will be making a final decision on council tax early in the new year, but we would welcome as many residents as possible to engage with this year’s consultation on the budget and council tax, and if they agree with our proposals.”
The draft budget and MTFP will go to a Full Council meeting in March next year for final approval.
For more information on the draft Budget and to complete the survey, visit 2027/28 Budget savings proposals - Nottingham City Council
The following short video shows how you can translate the survey. Answers submitted in an alternative language to English will be translated our end using Google Translate.
Paper copies are available at local Nottingham City libraries. You can also hand in a completed paper copy at your library if you wish to print at home. To find your local branch click here: Find a Library | Nottingham City Libraries
If you would like to mail your completed survey directly to us please send to the following address:
Research, Engagement & Consultation Team
Loxley House
Station Street, NG2 3NG
Nottingham
United Kingdom
Paper copies of the survey will be available shortly.
We want our consultations to be as accessible as possible. If you require a survey in large text or braille, a sign language interpreter at one of our in-person engagement events, or anything else in order to participate in this consultation please contact us at engage@nottinghamcity.gov.uk