By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
The departure of Nottingham City Council’s director of finance will not impact work to bridge an in-year budget gap of almost £3m, the authority’s deputy leader has said.
Ross Brown was appointed as the Labour-run authority’s Corporate Director of Finance, and Section 151 Officer, at the end of 2022.
He took over from the previous director, Clive Heaphy, who held the position on an interim basis.
Just under a year after his appointment, Mr Brown issued a Section 114 notice in November 2023.
This is the official tool used by the authority to effectively declare bankruptcy and came after he determined the council couldn’t meet its legal duty to set a balanced budget.
It was facing a £23m budget gap at the time.
The budget gap in the 2024/25 financial year – which is the current year – now stands at around £2.882m.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service Cllr Ethan Radford (Lab), the deputy leader of the council, confirmed Mr Brown no longer works for the authority and wished him well.
“[It] should not impact the ongoing budget process,” he added.
After declaring effective bankruptcy a year ago, the council was given Government permission to use asset sales to fund day-to-day operational costs up to £65m.
In the last financial year, 2023/24, slightly more than £17.5m in exceptional financial support was used to set a balanced budget.
For the current financial year, 2024/25, £41m in exceptional financial support will be used to help the council balance its books.
While the council continues to report an in-year overspend, “corrective actions” have helped to reduce the gap from £12.595m to £2.882m in the last two months.
Cllr Radford added: “The budget is still going to be a challenge to close.”
Shabana Kausar, the council’s Deputy Section 151 Officer, will step in to continue Mr Brown’s work.
She will be assisted by an additional financial support officer, the council said.
