This meeting is mostly concerned with the budget, and specifically, with a range of proposals that will be consulted on in an effort to reduce the council's reliance on the government's Exceptional Financial Support¹ scheme.

Councillors will also discuss the adoption of a new Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Prevention strategy, some changes to the way school admissions are done, and a number of new investments in the council's school estate, funded by grants from central government.

New savings proposals

A report entitled 'Budget Savings 2025/26 - 2028/29' (DRAFT Budget Strategy MTFP 202526 to 202829 v1.2 003) seeks approval for the council to begin a four-week public consultation on a range of new saving proposals, from 17 December 2024 to 13 January 2025. The report pack says that the proposals have been formulated in accordance with the council's budget strategy and will contribute towards reducing the projected budget gap for 2025/26 to 2028/29.

The proposals have been divided into two groups, those that require consultation, and those that do not. Those that do require consultation total £10.788m in 2025/26, and £16.1m over the four-year period covered by the report. The consultation proposals relate to initiatives intended to improve digital access, make better use of technology, consolidate spans, layers and functions, improve productivity and performance, strengthen workforce management, and reduce reliance on third-party spend. A summary of each of these proposals is contained within 'Appendix 1-- saving and income proposals requiring consultation' (Appendix 1-- saving and income proposals requiring consultation).

A further group of savings, totalling £7.122m in 2025/26 and £8.091m over the four year period, are described as efficiency led , and will not be consulted on. They relate to changes to Adult Social Care's Direct Payments scheme, Residential and Nursing reviews, and high-cost package reviews. They also relate to changes to the way Adult Social Care transport is reviewed, recovered and reabled, and to the way grants are realigned. The efficiency-led savings also include a redesign of Children's Integrated Services, a reduction in the subsidy given to Sports and Leisure, and a new management model for Museums and Galleries. The efficiency-led savings would also reduce the costs associated with freestanding advertising units, the way that Facilities Management and cleaning services are delivered and paid for, and the way the council repays external debt. 'Appendix 2- efficiency saving and income proposals that do not require consultation' (Appendix 2- efficiency saving and income proposals that do not require consultation) contains a summary of each of these proposals.

The report says that further work to identify additional savings will continue, and that a final Medium-Term Financial Plan, including the Council Tax for 2025/26, will be presented to Full Council on 3 March 2025.

Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Prevention Strategy

The council has a statutory duty to produce a strategy outlining what it will do to prevent and respond to homelessness and rough sleeping. This meeting includes the proposed adoption of a new strategy for the period 2025-29, entitled 'Nottingham Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Prevention Strategy 2025-2029' (Nottingham Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Prevention Strategy 2025-2029). The new strategy has been developed in response to a recently completed homelessness needs assessment, and seeks to renew the Homelessness Prevention Charter, which contains a series of values identifying how the partnership will work together and with people who are homeless or at risk.

The report pack says that the new strategy renews the Homelessness Prevention Charter and seeks to promote access and inclusivity through partnerships, processes and pathways. The new strategy contains four key priorities:

1. Homelessness is prevented and does not reoccur
2. The issues causing homelessness are addressed
3. Homelessness is brief
4. Rough Sleeping is reduced

It contains a series of aims and targets for each of these priorities, as well as a description of the current context, and some proposals for how the strategy will be implemented.

School admission arrangements 2026/2027

A document entitled 'Admission Arrangements 2026/2027' (Draft Admission Arrangements 2026.2027) details a number of changes that Nottingham City Council is making to the admission arrangements for community schools and to the processes for coordinating admissions with other admission authorities.

The report pack contains a summary of the results of the council's recent consultation on the new arrangements. It says that three key changes are being proposed:

1. Increase Secondary Preferences: The council is proposing to expand the number of school preferences parents can make for secondary applications, from 4 to 6.
2. Extend Waiting List Closing Date: The council wants to extend the closing date for school waiting lists from the May half-term to the end of June.
3. Introduce Year 6 Waiting List: The council is proposing to introduce a dedicated Year 6 waiting list.

Schools Capital Maintenance Grant Allocations 2024/2025

A document entitled 'Schools Capital Maintenance Grant Allocations 2024/2025' (Schools Capital Maintenance Grant Allocations 20242025) is seeking approval to accept the 2024/25 Capital Maintenance Grant allocation of £2,692,168 from the DfE² and to include the remaining £204,518 balance of the Primary Health and Safety fund. The report pack says that the funding is to improve the condition of school buildings that are maintained by the council. It explains that the schemes have been prioritised using a draft capital maintenance strategy, and that there are two main priority areas:

1. Health and safety issues likely to impact on children and staff
2. Condition issues likely to impact on the operation of the school

The report proposes that a total of 14 schemes be approved:

1. Southwold Primary School: asbestos removal and roofing works
2. Carrington Primary School: roofing works
3. Crabtree Farm Primary School: roofing works
4. Seely Primary School: re-routing of heating pipes
5. Dunkirk Primary School (Abbey campus): roofing works
6. Dunkirk Primary School (Highfields campus): roofing works
7. Walter Halls Primary School: Access/roofing works
8. Mellers Primary School: Heating
9. Melbury Primary School: Heating
10. Heathfield Primary School: Roofing
11. Fernwood Primary School: Heating
12. Rise Park Primary School: Roofing
13. Westglade Primary School: Roofing
14. Hempshill Hall Primary School: Structural

The schemes are listed in 'Allocation List' (Allocation List).

A contingency of £624,686 is included within the total grant funding, and the report proposes that the Corporate Director for Children and Education Services be given the authority to decide how that contingency is spent. The document also contains a business case ('Business Case' (Business Case)), and equality and carbon impact assessments ('Equality Impact Assessment' (Equality Impact Assessment) and 'Carbon Impact Assessment' (Carbon Impact Assessment)).

To create a Special Educational Needs Provision at Rise Park Primary School and The Milford Academy

This document (To create a Special Educational Needs Provision at Rise Park Primary School and The Milford Academy ) seeks approval for the creation of two new special educational needs provisions³ at Rise Park Primary School and The Milford Academy. The report pack says that the developments are required to address an urgent need for additional specialist places for pupils in the city, that they will offer access to high quality specialist educational provisions for local pupils, and that they will contribute to reducing the reliance on out-of-area independent school places.

The report pack says that £1,200,000 of high needs capital funding will be used to create a new specialist resourced provision⁴ at Rise Park Primary School. This funding includes a £58,165 contribution from Section 106 funds, related to the development at the former Padstow School site.

A further £800,000 will be used to build a new specialist resourced provision at The Milford Academy. This will enable the school to permanently accommodate eight pupils who already attend the school and have EHCPs⁵, and will also create eight new places that will be commissioned by the council.

Development of Laura Chambers Lodge for Social Housing

This document (Development of Laura Chambers Lodge for Social Housing) concerns the redevelopment of the former Laura Chambers Lodge care home in Clifton East ward into new social housing. The report pack says that the site is currently owned by the council's General Fund and is costing £70,000 per year to maintain. It seeks approval to demolish the existing building and build approximately 40 units of new social housing on the site.

It says that the funding for the scheme will come primarily from the government's Right to Buy Replacement Receipts fund, which is used to fund replacements for homes sold under the Right to Buy scheme. £1.4m will also come from Section 106 contributions.

Letting of Suites 1-4, First Floor, The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Building

This report (Letting of Suites 1-4 First Floor The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Building EGA Nottingham Scienc) is seeking approval for Nottingham City Council to let four first-floor office suites in the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Building on Nottingham Science Park. The report pack says that the Council has appointed an external commercial property agent to market the property and that heads of terms have been agreed with a prospective tenant. The report recommends that the lease be approved, and that the Director of Economic Development & Property be delegated the responsibility for agreeing any necessary changes to the final lease terms, except for the rent.