By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
The outgoing leader of ‘bankrupt’ Nottingham City Council says he regrets not asking more questions about Robin Hood Energy before its eventual collapse in 2020.
The council-run firm’s demise cost taxpayers an estimated £38m, and resulted in the Government appointing an Improvement and Assurance Board to oversee critical changes three years ago.
On Monday, March 11, the council’s leader of five years, Cllr David Mellen, told fellow Labour councillors he would not be standing for leader again, meaning the party will need to select a new leader of the authority next month. They will then take control of the council from May.
Cllr Mellen succeeded former leader Jon Collins in 2019, having before sat on the executive for 11 years.
He said he will continue to represent his Dales ward as he has done since 2007.
“Certainly there have been challenges all along,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
“All through those five years from closing Robin Hood Energy to the Covid pandemic, to intu going bust [where] they half demolished our shopping centre, through to the reflections on us through an audit report, Max Caller’s statutory review and the improvement board and now the commissioners.
“So yes there have been lots of problems and lots of difficulties. Some of them are unique to Nottingham, but many of them are not. They are the experience of councils either this year or the future unless the current funding model for councils is adjusted and improved.”
Cllr Mellen admitted he regrets not asking more questions about Robin Hood Energy during his time as a senior councillor.
“I suppose a lot of the intervention originated with Robin Hood Energy and I suppose as I was in the executive before I became leader, there was perhaps more opportunity for asking questions, assessing the risks of that project,” he said.
“Although it was well-intentioned and the aim was to reduce the burdens on ordinary people’s fuel bills, it certainly was something that exposed the council to more risk than was sensible.”
Speaking of the positives, he said he was most proud of the opening of the new Nottingham Central Library and pedestrianisation of Collin Street, which was once a four-lane route for traffic, as well as the successful reopening of Nottingham Castle under the council’s control.
Cllr Mellen had previously worked as a teacher for 21 years, including at the Jesse Boot School, Crossdale Drive Primary School and the Mellors School in Radford where he was headteacher for four years.
He said his role as leader had been the most “exacting” job he’d done and added: “I’ve done my best.
“I think it is time for new political leadership and I will support them and give them advice where they want it and hope to continue the work that has been going on.
“When I started doing this job in 2019, I had already been an executive member for 11 years and I had already been a headteacher.
“It was not going to be something that would go on and on and on. I think five years is a reasonable time to give it and it is an exacting role.
“I work 60 hours a week, that is not very sustainable. Maybe my successor will be able to do it in less time, but I haven’t found [that] if you want to do all the things in your ward as well as here.
“I think it is time for new energy, new resource and I will be backing them all the way.”
A new leader will be chosen at an Annual General Meeting in April.
