By Jamie Waller, Local Democracy Reporter
Nottingham Forest have held talks with the county council in case the club decides to quit the City Ground over a rent dispute.
The football club leases the stadium site from Nottingham City Council, and is unhappy with a proposed rent increase from £250,000 to £1m.
Early talks have been held with Nottinghamshire County Council to start the process of looking for alternate sites in case the disagreement can’t be resolved.
The discussions were revealed on Thursday (March 21) during a full council meeting, when political leaders stressed the need for confidentiality about the details discussed.
Members passed a motion to continue exploring whether any council-owned sites which were surplus to requirements could be suitable.
Council leader Ben Bradley (Con) told the meeting: “We all know how important Nottingham Forest is to the area, but it’s not our decision.
“The club has asked us ‘If we can’t find anywhere to stay, can you work with us to find an alternative?’
“We have exchanged correspondence. There is nothing more widely to discuss at this stage.
“I fully expect Nottingham Forest to come to a resolution with the city council and this to go away.”
He dismissed speculation from the Independent Alliance group that discussions had been held in “smoke filled rooms”, saying Nottingham Forest was being treated the same as any other developer.
Councillor David Martin (Ind), who proposed the original motion, suggested council-owned land at Toton originally bought for a HS2 station could be suitable.
“It would be a major boost for Broxtowe economies. People would still go into the city to stay and eat before heading to the stadium,” he said.
“Whether you’re a football fan or not, the socio-economic benefits help everyone.”
Other councillors called for more transparency on the negotiations.
Councillor Tom Hollis (Ind) said: “Many businesses rely on selling pints, burgers and car parking spaces to fans, and they will be affected. If the club were to move, they need to help as much as possible with alternative locations.”
Councillor Keith Girling hit back at accusations that the council had been secretive.
“This is commercially sensitive information – do you expect us to put it on Facebook?” He asked.
Labour abstained from the vote; their own amendment calling for public consultation hadn’t been included as officers said it changed the spirit of the motion.
Councillor Michelle Welsh (Lab) said: “Fans will be lying awake at night wondering about the future. They feel like they’re not being listened to.”
Forest have 33 years left on the City Ground lease, but want to extend it before investing in a long-planned stadium expansion.
Eight Nottinghamshire MPs have written to the city council expressing their concerns about the club’s move.
A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council recently said they remained committed to further negotiations.
