Nottingham City Council

The committee received an update on the Bridge Estate charity property portfolio, including several lettings, properties under offer, and a freehold disposal with leaseback nearing completion. Members also discussed planning an annual portfolio tour to focus on progress since last year and requested a future visioning session to consider how sale proceeds from upcoming property disposals should be used.

The committee considered a major planning application to demolish an existing office building at 8 Clinton Terrace, Derby Road, and replace it with a five-storey residential scheme of 22 flats. The main procurement-relevant issues were section 106 viability, design quality, conservation area impacts, and construction-related conditions such as materials, landscaping, and employment/training provision. Members were broadly supportive and unanimously approved the application.

The Board approved or noted a series of commissioning, investment and property decisions spanning domestic abuse support, adult social care fee uplifts, public health and substance misuse services, technology-enabled care, fostering, specialist education provision, local plan work and housing development. Several reports were framed around local government reorganisation, contract continuity, market sustainability, and reducing reliance on expensive out-of-area or external placements through more local capacity and modernised services.

The meeting focused first on Nottingham’s student accommodation strategy, including oversupply, vacancy rates, and plans to repurpose some PBSA into co-living or other uses. Members then discussed the council’s housing regulator improvement programme, including repairs, data systems, tenant engagement, capital works, and future in-house delivery options. Several follow-up actions were agreed, including annual review of student housing, more detailed market breakdowns, and a deep dive into housing patch management and tenant estates services.

This Standards and Governance Committee meeting focused on amendments to the constitution, notably introducing a pre-vetting system for council motions and broader governance improvements. Officers would vet motions for operability, financial viability, and legality before submission to full council, with additional changes including reporting back on motions and potential electronic voting. A working party will drive updates ahead of a July 2026 council decision, with further amendments anticipated before December 2026.

The Improvement Committee discussed Nottingham City Council’s Continuous Service Improvement Plan (CSIP), mandated by government directions, with a three-month window to agree the plan (target by 2026-06-24) and a formal but non-decision-making governance role for the committee. The plan comprises seven priority service areas and nine improvement programmes, including a Procurement and Transformation stream, digital-enabled care pilots, housing and waste reform, and Target Operating Model changes across adults, children, and housing. Monthly governance reporting is planned, with envoys and independent chairs providing scrutiny.