Cllr Sam Smith is Conservative Leader of the Opposition on Nottinghamshire County Council. He also sits on Gedling Borough Council representing Trent Valley. Here he shares his fears over Reform’s plan for the council to remain at County Hall and how it could result in extra costs for the taxpayer…
We are accusing the Reform-led administration of breaking their key election pledge to cut waste and save taxpayers’ money now it has it emerged that their decision to remain at County Hall will cost taxpayers millions in lost savings and unbudgeted spending.
A new council report confirms that continuing to occupy County Hall will wipe out the £1.7 million annual saving built into the budget under the previous Conservative administration.
The move to Oak House, on the border of Hucknall, had been carefully planned to modernise the council’s estate, reduce running costs, and free up funds for frontline services.
Instead, the Reform administration has approved over half a million pounds in urgent repairs and maintenance just to keep the ageing County Hall building operational.
On top of that, taxpayers face duplicate running costs for both County Hall and Oak House, along with additional staffing expenses that were never budgeted for.
Even more wastefully, Reform are still pressing ahead with plans to spend over £500,000 to renovate Trent Bridge House in West Bridgford so staff can vacate County Hall – a move that will now no longer happen.
Under the previous plans, these investments would have delivered savings of around £30 million over the next ten years. Instead, Reform’s decision to keep both County Hall and Oak House open will add millions more to the deficit.
“This isn’t good financial management – it’s complete chaos”
The financial chaos doesn’t end there. By choosing to cling onto County Hall, Reform are also putting one of Nottinghamshire’s most iconic public assets at risk. Under Cllr Khan’s A46 local government reorganisation plan, ownership of the site could pass to the City Council – a move that the Conservatives fear will lead to the site being sold off to help pay off the City Council’s debts.
In contrast, the Conservatives had plans to develop the site to generate income for the council, helping to fund vital services and keep council tax low – something the City could now benefit from on the back of Reform’s reckless decision.
Reform promised to make savings and cut waste, but within months of taking charge they’ve done the exact opposite. The £1.7 million annual saving in the budget has vanished, and they’re now spending hundreds of thousands more to keep a second building open – all while blowing £500,000 on Trent Bridge House for staff who aren’t even moving there. This isn’t good financial management – it’s complete chaos.”
We can debate the future of County Hall – many of us value its history and significance – but the fact remains that this decision completely contradicts everything Reform claimed to stand for. They talked about efficiency, yet their first major decision has created a financial black hole that taxpayers will have to fill. And by clinging to County Hall, they’re putting the site at risk of falling into City Council ownership and being flogged off to pay for their mistakes, putting County taxpayers’ money and assets at risk – a disastrous outcome.”
The Conservatives are calling for full transparency on how Reform intends to fund these unbudgeted costs and whether council tax rises or service reductions will now be needed to fill the gap.
The question now is: where will the money come from to pay for this? Will Reform close libraries? Cut youth services? Slash the highways budget? Or will they come after residents’ wallets with higher council tax bills?
They inherited a financially sound council on track to deliver more savings – and have turned it into one heading straight for cuts and higher bills. Nottinghamshire residents deserve better than empty promises and broken finances.”
