Nottinghamshire council meetings begin at unfinished headquarters

Nottinghamshire County Council held its first full meeting at its new base, Oak House, despite claims that the building is still unfinished. The council moved from its old location at County Hall in West Bridgford due to high maintenance costs. Council leader Sam Smith said Oak House is safe for meetings. However, opposition councillors argued it is not ready and labeled the meeting a "political stunt." They expressed concerns about safety and the additional costs of providing bottled water and safety briefings. One opposition leader, Jason Zadrozny, criticized the decision to meet there, saying it shows the Conservative administration's priorities. Labour leader Kate Foale called Oak House a “vanity project” and suggested the council should consider selling it. Smith defended the choice of location, stating it is functional for meetings. He mentioned that Oak House lacks a safe drinking water supply, but this will be resolved before staff move in permanently later in May. Meanwhile, smaller council meetings will continue at County Hall, which will also be the venue for election result announcements. The council is reorganizing local government and has endorsed a plan to eliminate smaller councils while keeping the boundary with Nottingham city. This meeting was particularly significant as it was the last for former council leader Ben Bradley, who will not be seeking re-election.