All main parties in Nottingham have published their manifestos and key pledges ahead of the local elections on May 4.

Voters will head to the polls next month to select which candidates they want to sit in 20 wards which return a total of 55 seats on Nottingham City Council.

The authority dictates how Nottingham taxpayers’ money is spent on roads, bin collections, parks and leisure, libraries and other services including adult and children’s social care.

Currently, the Labour Group has 50 of 55 seats on the council, the Nottingham Independents have three, and the Conservative Group has two.

The Nottingham Labour Group is the only party to have put forward a candidate for all 55 seats.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives have put forward 41, the Nottingham Independents 28, the Liberal Democrats 20, the Green Party 17 and UKIP which has put forward two.

Three candidates will be standing independently and one will stand for the Trade Union and Socialist Coalition.

While 28 seats are required for a majority, the Conservative Group says it is only seeking to create a “strong opposition”.

In 2019 it put up 55 candidates in an attempt to gain control of the council.

Similarly, the Liberal Democrats said the group hopes to create an “effective opposition”.

The manifesto and pledges are as follows:

City of Nottingham Liberal Democrats 

As with the Conservative Group, the Liberal Democrats are seeking to form an effective opposition.

The group has put up 20 candidates compared to 33 in 2019.

In a statement it says: “Labour have controlled the council since it was formed.

“They have 50 out of 55 seats and it is certain they will be in charge again. What isn’t certain is whether there will be an opposition.

“With the Conservatives in chaos and Labour pushing hard to win marginal seats, there’s a chance that we could be in a one-party state from May 5.

“That being the case, every vote for the Liberal Democrats will send the council a message.

“Every Liberal Democrat elected will be an effective opposition. Every vote for the Lib Dems sends the message that our city needs a strong, functioning opposition, that scrutinises the decisions of the council and that fights for a better deal for residents.”

In its manifesto, which is five pages long, the group detailed six main pledges to “fix” Nottingham.

They are as follows;

1. A council that cleans up its finances:

“Sound finances need to be restored to the City Council. Any Lib Dems elected would be an effective opposition to scrutinise their finances.”

2. Building a better Broad Marsh:

“Making sure the Broad Marsh development has a proper green space and that any building on that land is to a decent environmental standard, rather than the lowest common denominator.”

3. A sound future for Nottingham Castle:

“A sound future for Nottingham Castle with a public business plan.

“The Castle needs to be reopened with a proper, public business plan, and we will push for the grounds to be open [for free] to all, not just three times a year as Labour are promising.”

4. Protect our libraries:

“We still don’t have a Central Library, several years after the previous one was closed.

“The council has wasted money on storing books while, at the same time, threatening to close three more libraries.

“The Lib Dems fought those closures and will push the council to deliver better provision, including a proper central library again.”

5. Attract jobs and investment:

“Nottingham is an internationally known city, famous for many inventions and for Robin Hood.

“The current administration has presided over its decline. Lib Dems would engage with business plus the creative and science sectors.

“It’s time for the city to be revitalised.”

6. Turn around the city’s ‘inadequate’ Children’s Services:

“It is shameful that the City Council’s provision of Children’s Services has been rated ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.

“There are Lib Dem councillors in the UK who have turned around failing Children’s Services provision.

“If elected, the Lib Dems would engage with them and push for sharing of best
practice so that the next generation in Nottingham are not let down.”

Local Elections 2023 on The Wire 

Nottingham Labour Manifesto pledges for Local Elections 2023

Nottingham Conservatives Manifesto pledges for Local Elections 2023

Nottingham Green Party Manifesto pledges for Local Elections 2023

Nottingham Independents Manifesto pledges for Local Elections 2023