A row has broken out over recent comments made by the Sheriff of Nottingham that some areas of the city are a "dump". During a sometimes heated exchange at the Council House on Monday (April 10), some councillors accused the Sheriff of "putting the city down."
Councillor Shuguftah Quddoos, who represents the Berridge ward on behalf of Labour, was unanimously backed to be Nottingham's new sheriff during a meeting in May. Later that month, the Sheriff appeared on BBC Radio Nottingham and responding to a caller who said the city was going "down and down", Councillor Quddoos partly agreed.
She said: "There are parts of the city that absolutely are a dump. I represent a ward in the city where we have hotspots which could be better. Unfortunately, the city council doesn't have a bottomless pit of money and if we had a bottomless pit of money, we would deal with those hotspots and areas of the city that are a dump."
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At the first full meeting of Nottingham City Council since the comments were made, opposition councillors expressed their disagreement. Councillor Kirsty Jones, a member of the Nottingham Independents, said: "Whilst I'll agree with some constituents that some areas are looking rather tired and forgotten, I would never refer to parts of Nottingham as a dump.
"Does the Leader agree with me that we want to encourage tourists to visit our lovely city and statements such as 'parts of our city are a dump' are off-putting to this endeavour at best." Councillor Kevin Clarke, the Leader of the Opposition, also asked: "Is it right for a civic dignitary to put the city down.
"I have the greatest respect for the councillor for Berridge, we've got on very well since I've been a councillor. But I don't think it's right that a civic dignitary should be calling parts of this city a dump."
But the Leader of Nottingham City Council, Councillor David Mellen, said: "We must recognise that there are those who do not keep our city clean. [Who] fly tip, who drop litter, who do not clean up after their dogs, all of which affects the cleanliness of our city.
"There is no excuse for this bad behaviour and we will use our powers to enforce and fine those who do not observe the basic rules regarding putting rubbish in the many bins available, disposing of bigger items in appropriate ways and clearing up after their dogs. Those are the ones who diminish the efforts of our staff and volunteers and we must do our part through engagement and enforcement to ensure this behaviour reduces or in an ideal world stops altogether."
Discussions became fractious when Labour's Councillor Ethan Radford at one point referred to online comments which he said were made by Nottingham Independent candidates during the recent local election campaign. These candidates were not eventually elected, but Councillor Radford said statements included references to "drugged up students" and descriptions of Labour councillors taking "brown paper bags."
Councillor Clarke shouted "shame" across the council chamber to Councillor Radford after he had spoken. The latter defended his contribution in an argument which had to be interrupted by the Lord Mayor.
Councillor Clarke later said: "Well I completely don't know what he's on about to be quite honest with you." Councillor Mellen later added: "We must continue to work hard to praise those who improve the city and come down hard on those who treat it with no respect."
Despite partially agreeing with the caller, Councillor Quddoos did add during her interview in May that there were lots of reasons to be positive about Nottingham. She said: "I think it's a mixed bag, like all cities, there are the places that clearly are a dump, and there are places that are fantastic and beautiful."
