Conservative Councillor Stuart Bestwick represents Newstead Ward on Nottinghamshire County Council.
In this column, Cllr Bestwick questions how Reform will balance the books as they face a possible council budget overspend.
Just six months into the financial year, the Reform-led Nottinghamshire County Council is staring at a huge overspend – a sharp reversal from the balanced position achieved under the previous Conservative administration.
The latest Financial Monitoring Report presented at Thursday’s Cabinet meeting exposes a pattern of in-year drift and growing pressure across key services. We Conservative councillors are warning that the situation leaves Reform facing tough choices – either break open the “piggy bank” of reserves, or start cutting the very frontline services they promised to protect.
Reform were elected on promises to save money, drive efficiency and reduce council tax. Six months in, and we’re already seeing an overspent budget. The question now is: where will they strike to balance the books? Will they raid the reserves, or will they start cutting vital services?”
“They could have to start cutting the very frontline services they promised to protect.”
Adult Social Care remains the biggest source of pressure, with a £4.95 million overspend forecast despite the much-publicised ‘Sustainability Plan’. Reform said they have a plan to get costs under control, but there’s little evidence to show it’s working. Unless Central Government steps in to bail them out, the current assumptions on demand and placement costs look wildly optimistic.
Get Gedling Eye on WhatsApp. Follow our channel and get a daily update Tap HERE to follow
The High Needs crisis paints an equally grim picture, with a £33.7 million overspend and a £31.7 million reserve deficit. These aren’t just numbers, they’re a flashing red warning light for the Council’s long-term stability. If Reform don’t act quickly, Nottinghamshire could find itself in real trouble.
Turning to the Council’s wider financial outlook, there are major risks in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy. The plan assumes £45 million of savings over three years and just a 2% pay rise. Those numbers don’t stack up. We need to see what happens if funding tightens or inflation keeps rising – otherwise, we’re being asked to take it all on faith.
I would also question the new DOGE style Efficiency Working Group, set up to find savings: so far, we’ve seen nothing, no membership list, no timetable and no targets. Reform talk about efficiency, but where’s the evidence they can actually deliver it?
I don’t doubt the commitment of council staff, but these figures show that Reform’s financial grip is slipping. They came in promising to save taxpayers’ money – yet within months they could be forced to raid the reserves left by the previous Conservative administration or make huge cuts to frontline services. Nottinghamshire’s residents deserve a council that plans prudently, not one that gambles with their future.
They are a disgrace. It should not have happened. As a pensioner who went out in all weathers to ensure a change of government I find it difficult to believe how the government I helped put into power is conducting itself. It needs to sort itself out and win back the confidence of those who voted it into power. It needs to change its public facing image. It needs a new PM. It needs to learn how to manage, how to engage the interest and confidence of the electorate. It needs to stop targeting pensioners! If we end up with a Reform government it will be because the present government has failed to deliver as promised. I realise these comments are directed at a Conservative Councillor. Voting and canvassing for Labour at the general election was a first for me. I was so disillusioned by the previous government. In my student days I was an active Young Conservative and later an executive member, for many years of a Nottingham branch .