Conversatives accuse Reform of mis-managing Nottinghamshire County Council's finances

The Conservatives have accused Reform of ignoring repeated warnings over how they are handling Nottinghamshire County Council’s finances.

It follows news that the Reform-led council is planning to borrow a further £10.3 million in 2026/27, according to the latest financial monitoring report due to be considered by cabinet.

Conservative councillors say the figures validate concerns they raised when they presented their Alternative Budget in February, warning that Reform's financial plans lacked sufficient contingencies, underestimated staff pay costs and failed to maximise opportunities to generate income through asset sales.

Coun Stuart Bestwick, Conservative Lead Spokesman for Finance at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "Back in February, we warned Reform that their budget did not provide enough protection against rising costs and that their assumptions around capital receipts lacked ambition. They chose to ignore us. The fact they have still failed to meet those projections raises serious questions about their financial management.

"Just a few months later, the council is planning to borrow another £10.3 million, is facing an additional £7.6 million cost from a pay award that was not fully budgeted for and is now forecasting a £6.4 million overspend.

"All this despite the council receiving £91 million this financial year from EMCCA to invest in Nottinghamshire's roads. Residents will rightly question why borrowing is already increasing when Reform promised it would not happen.

"These are exactly the kinds of pressures we warned about. The troubling part is not that these risks existed, it's that the administration was warned about them and chose not to listen."

The latest report forecasts a £6.4 million overspend in 2026/27 and confirms that the National Employers' 3.3% pay award, compared to the 3% increase assumed in Reform's budget, has created an additional £7.6 million cost pressure. Cabinet is now being asked to use contingency funding to cover the shortfall.

The conservatives also say the additional borrowing raises serious questions about the sustainability of Reform's financial plans and whether the administration has a credible strategy for delivering its priorities without placing further pressure on taxpayers.

Coun Bestwick added "When Reform took control, they promised residents they would not increase borrowing and would cut or freeze Council Tax. Instead, just months into their first budget, borrowing is increasing, the Council is forecasting an overspend and residents are being lined up for yet another Council Tax rise. That is a long way from the promises made during the election campaign."

"Residents expect competence, sound financial planning and honesty. What they have seen so far does not inspire confidence."

"Our Alternative Budget would have put the council on a stronger financial footing from the outset. When we bring forward our next Alternative Budget in February, we will again set out a responsible plan to protect taxpayers and safeguard the services residents rely on."