Nottinghamshire County Council’s new leader says residents can be "assured" council tax will be kept as low as possible in face of authority’s rising costs

The new leader of Nottinghamshire County Council says he cannot rule out a tax rise next year — but says people can be “assured” rates will be kept as low as possible despite the authority facing rising costs.

Sam Smith was formally ratified as the council’s new leader today (December 5), taking over from Ben Bradley.

Mr Smith sits as the county representative for Newark East and is also a Gedling Borough councillor for Trent Valley.

He arrives as Nottinghamshire County Council faces an expected £31million cost rise in adult social care due to the Government’s increase of the National Living Wage and National Insurance.

This figure is expected for the 2025 to 2026 financial year and relates to the paying of external contractor charges.

There is also a further expected cost of £4.5million in National Insurance charges the council will face as an employer of its own staff.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Smith said: “We are lobbying the Government, making noises to the Government how to offset that increase.

“We’ve [had] a motion coming today that sets out our argument to the Government to take into account what their dreadful budget is having on residents — we are calling for them to think again.”

The increased costs to councils from Living Wage and National Insurance increases, announced by the Labour Government on October 30, raises questions over how local authorities will offset those costs.

Mr Smith said he cannot “make any commitment” on future council tax rises at the moment but added residents can be “assured” it will be kept as low as possible.

He added: “Under the Conservative administration at county, we have never increased council tax by the maximum [allowed], we have kept it as low as possible while delivering good services.”

Last April the council increased tax bills for county residents by 2.84% plus a 2% rise for a second charge, the Adult Social Care Precept, for a total of 4.84%.

This is 0.15% below the maximum 4.99% councils were allowed to increase bills by that year.

The new leader also defended the Conservatives’ record before upcoming council elections.

The council’s current composition is 34 Conservative seats, 15 Labour seats, 15 seats for the Independent Group and two Independent members — meaning the Tory majority is just two.

The next county council election is due to take place in May 2025.

Mr Smith said: “I’m extremely proud of the work the Conservatives have done here — work to County Hall, libraries in every community, SEND services improving.

“The £60 million into roads, youth services across communities, well-managed budgets, absolutely thanks to Conservative oversight of that.”

The council’s revised funding shortfall over the next three years is expected to be £64 million with the current in-year shortfall forecast at £4.4 million.

The authority’s finance director, Nigel Stevenson, previously told the LDRS that he is “confident” the in-year shortfall will come down.

The council is due to get the Local Government Settlement by December 23 — outlining how much funding it will get from Whitehall.

It will then work towards finalising its official budget by next February, including any decisions on council tax from April onwards.

The councillor to take over Mr Smith’s cabinet role for education and SEND will be announced in due course.