An expert panel to help Nottingham City Council improve its ‘appalling financial and management issues’ has been set up by the Government.

Local government secretary Robert Jenrick has announced new measures to tackle failures at the council following a rapid review last month.

A Public Interest Report, published last month, found the council lost £24m through its energy company, Robin Hood Energy.

The panel, made up of experts in governance and finance, will help the council deliver the report’s recommendations. The council must put forward a three-year recovery plan by the end of January 2021.

Mr Jenrick said: ‘The rapid review into Nottingham City Council highlighted appalling financial and management issues within the council. Taxpayers and residents have been let down by years of disgraceful mismanagement and inept ventures such as Robin Hood Energy, that have wasted tens of millions of pounds that should be being spent on public services. These must end now. The council has a window in which to demonstrate that it is capable of running the city and turning the situation it has created around.

’I will be appointing an independent expert panel to help them urgently address this by producing and delivering a comprehensive recovery plan.’

The council said it fully accepts the findings of the rapid review and would take the necessary steps to bring about improvements.

Council leader, cllr David Mellen, said: 'This report highlights significant concerns around our budget management, levels of borrowing and debt and reliance on savings and income from commercialisation. These are many of the areas that my team and I have been focused on tackling since I became the leader.

'I was determined from day one when I took over just 18 months ago to ensure that there is financial and service stability at the council. I will never shrink from tackling the big issues on behalf of residents and my determination is stronger than ever.'