Nottingham City Council's cash woes can be fixed, says commissioner

Tony McArdle has been appointed lead commissioner with Nottingham City Council

A commissioner appointed to help run Nottingham City Council says its financial difficulties are "considerable" but "can be remedied".

In November, the authority effectively declared itself bankrupt amid an in-year budget gap of £23m.

Tony McArdle is leading a group appointed by the government to help run the council.

He said it was facing a "range of difficulties" but the situation was "not the worst".

The commissioners have been appointed for two years and will work alongside the existing structure of the authority, with all officers and elected officials remaining in place.

They will soon be working with a new council leader after David Mellen announced on Monday he would not seek re-election as leader.

The council has had to make major cuts to balance the books

Earlier this month, the authority approved major cuts and job losses to help balance the books.

Mr McArdle told the BBC he did not know if further cuts would be needed in the future and said he could not rule out the sale of community assets such as Wollaton Hall and Nottingham Castle.

"It's quite difficult to keep going to the government and asking for more money if you've got assets you can sell that are releasing that money yourself," he said.

"But I understand fully the public interest there will be in many of these buildings, so it's not something we're going to rush at. We're not doing a fire sale.

"Best value isn't about the cheapest and the quickest fast buck you can make.

"It's about looking at the long-term and saying what is important to Nottingham, how do we best preserve and protect it if that's what it's important, or how to best realise the value from it if that's what makes more sense."

Mr McArdle was asked if he cared for the city of Nottingham and its residents.

He said: "The best way to care about the people of Nottingham is for this council not to have the dramas and the excitements that has so far plagued it for some years now and is plaguing it at the minute.

"Let's get back to having a local authority that works in the manner which delivers for its citizens, the people of this city, in a proper sustainable and safe way for the future."