Kit Sandeman
Local Democracy Reporter

Government inspectors will be brought in to look at the finances of Nottingham City Council.

It comes after an external auditor issued a highly critical report into the council's handling of Robin Hood Energy, which has now been sold to the owners of British Gas with reported losses of £38m.

The Labour-run council has said it was "understandable" the government was carrying out the investigation, which it says would be a "short focused review that follows the publication of the Public Interest Report".

A spokesman for the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "We are monitoring the situation in Nottingham very closely. Councils have a duty to manage taxpayers' money responsibly and should be held to account where they are found to have failed to do so."

A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: "The review will help the council build on the work we have already started since the summer to reappraise the priorities we have set out in light of the major challenges we face.

"We welcome good advice and guidance which will help us do better for the people of our city."

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

A new walk-through coronavirus testing facility has opened at the Forest Park & Ride in Nottingham.

Image source, EPA

It can be used by anyone that has symptoms of Covid-19 but appointments must be booked in advance.

The Department of Health and Social Care said the new site is situated so as to be easily accessible without a car.

Derbyshire all-rounder Mattie McKiernan and batsman Tom Wood sign new one-year deals.

"We all hope to be in a position" to allow families to spend Christmas together, a government minister says.

Sandish Shoker
BBC News

Dozens of tin cans have been strewn across the M1 this morning after a lorry shed its load.

The tins were left scattered across the southbound carriageway between junctions 28 and 29, causing lengthy delays.

Highways England said two lanes remain shut and emergency services have been called to assist in clearing the debris.

Image source, Highways England

Amy Woodfield
BBC News

More students have been fined for having parties which broke coronavirus restrictions.

Nottinghamshire Police said one had even been advertised as a ticketed birthday party and had door security outside the house.

It comes days after four students were fined £10,000 each for hosting a party at their house in Lenton.

More fixed penalty notices were issued but for a lesser amount due to there being fewer than 30 people involved at each party, police said.

Image source, Google

Two of the parties were next door to one another, near Broad Street (pictured) - one of them had been advertised as a ticketed birthday party, police said.

A third party was shut down on Church Avenue in Lenton and the fourth party was on Hamden Street.

A University of Nottingham spokesperson said the majority of its 35,000 students were following the rules.

"Under our student code of conduct there are serious consequences for any students who breach the restrictions, including disciplinary action, fines and campus sanctions," a spokesman said.

A spokesman for Nottingham Trent University said: “Where we have evidence of any breaches, students will face immediate disciplinary action that may include further fines or expulsion.”

A detective said statements by three alleged victims described "horrendous child abuse".

BBC Weather

This morning will become mainly cloudy with patchy rain but this should clear by the afternoon leaving some sunshine.

There will be a maximum temperature of 13C (55F).

This evening will be largely dry and cool but turning cloudier and breezier later on in the night.

Image source, sky girl

Notts County are forced to withdraw from the FA Cup after two more players test positive for Covid-19.

The Harley Gallery closed after the Portland Tiara was stolen in 2018 along with a brooch.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Nottingham's seven-day coronavirus infection rate has fallen again.

The latest figure - reflecting cases for the week to 19 October - is 561.4 per 100,000 people, down from 604.5 yesterday.

Nottingham now has the fifth highest rate in England, behind Knowsley, Blackburn with Darwen, Rossendale and Liverpool.

Image source, Nottingham City Council

The city and county of Nottinghamshire are still waiting to hear whether they will be made subject to tier three restrictions in the coming days.

A meeting between local leaders and a government minister was due to take place at 16:30.

Ex-Premier League player Paul Williams says he found it difficult to challenge racism he experienced during a 16-year career.

Residents say students behind a house party that led to four £10,000 fines are "putting lives at risk".

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

The leader of Nottinghamshire County Council has confirmed she has been invited to discuss potential tier three restrictions with the government.

Kay Cutts said: "I can confirm that leaders of Nottinghamshire County Council and Nottingham City Council have received an invitation from government to commence initial discussions today about how potential tier three restrictions would impact local communities.

"We will enter any discussions to achieve the best possible outcomes for the health and livelihoods of all residents of Nottinghamshire," she added.

"The best outcome will be achieved with the full co-operation of all leaders in Nottinghamshire who I know will have the best interests of the health and wellbeing of their communities at heart.

"As soon as we reach any conclusions, we will communicate the implications for the affected communities."

The Department of Health and Social Care said discussions about moving Nottingham city and parts of Nottinghamshire (Broxtowe Borough Council, Gedling Borough Council, Rushcliffe Borough Council) were ongoing.

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

The leader of Gedling Borough Council says the authority will now be represented at talks to discuss Nottingham and parts of Nottinghamshire being moved into tier three.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said a 45-minute meeting between housing minister Christopher Pincher and the leaders and chief executives of the city and county council was scheduled to start at 16:30.

Now it appears other local leaders have been invited to join.

Image source, Gedling Borough Council

John Clarke said: "We are pleased government ministers have now listened to our demand to be included in today's initial discussion with them about any proposed further Covid-19 restrictions for Nottinghamshire.

"It is regrettable that inviting borough and district council leaders to today's proposed meeting with the leaders of the city council and county council was an afterthought."

Gavin Bevis
BBC News

Angling is to form part of therapy at an armed forces rehabilitation centre in the East Midlands after thousands of fish were delivered.

Duke's Lake at the Stanford Hall Rehabilitation Estate has been restocked with more than 10,000 bream, rudd, roach and crucian carp from the Environment Agency's National Coarse Fish Farm in Calverton.

Image source, Environment Agency

Jake Dorey, from the Environment Agency, said: "The aim is to use fishing as part of the rehabilitation process, and this huge boost of fish stocks should go a long way in helping to achieve this.

"It has long been proven that green activities such as angling have a positive impact on mental health."

Field House in Alfreton is put in special measures after a Care Quality Commission inspection.

One pub landlord says he is "only going to be letting my regulars in, the people that I know".

PA Media

The Chancellor has confirmed conversations "are ongoing" about moving Nottingham and some surrounding areas into the top tier of coronavirus restrictions.

Alex Norris, the Labour MP for Nottingham North, said he only found out about the meeting "through the media because local MPs haven't been invited".

He asked Rishi Sunak what financial support will be in place "to protect our jobs and businesses".

Mr Sunak said it will be "a difficult time" for residents, who he said "should engage constructively" over efforts to combat the pandemic.

"There will be a variety of support available," he said. "For closed businesses they will receive grants of up to £3,000 a month, paid centrally.

"Obviously there will be a negotiation and a conversation with the communities secretary which will result in an amount of support being provided for businesses similar to other areas, and of course there is a formula to provide support up to £8 per head for the local authority, and that money is used to enhance local compliance, enforcement and contact tracing.

"I know those conversations are ongoing and I very much hope they can have a constructive outcome."

The prime minister's official spokesman also confirmed the talks for Nottinghamshire and West Yorkshire in a Westminster briefing.

Deano Churchill-Richards gave the victim alcohol and a psychoactive substance, police say.