Former Sheriff of Nottingham Accused of Abusing Position for Discounts

A former Sheriff of Nottingham, Labour councillor Zafran Khan, is accused of abusing his position to secure a substantial discount on Land Rover repairs and obtain free hospitality tickets for various events, according to a recent report.

Khan reportedly used his council email address, signing off as 'The Sheriff of Nottingham,' to negotiate a £22,500 reduction on a £30,000 repair quote for his Land Rover. An external investigation by the legal firm Bevan Brittan concluded that there was no legitimate reason for using his councillor email for this purpose and suggested it was likely used to attempt to gain an advantage.

Khan also requested and accepted complimentary tickets to events at the Motorpoint Arena, including shows by singer Tate McRae, a stage adaptation of 'Paw Patrol,' and games featuring the Nottingham Panthers ice hockey team. He also failed to declare attendance at the opening of The Ivy restaurant in Nottingham and accepted complimentary visits to the Nottingham racecourse hospitality suite with guests.

According to council rules, councillors are required to declare any gifts or hospitality valued at £25 or more. Khan stated that he believed the items he received were below this threshold or complimentary, therefore not requiring declaration. He also cited being tired and not fully understanding the Code of Conduct due to a lack of sleep following his election in May 2019 as reasons for not remembering hospitality rules training.

The report found that Khan's use of his title was likely not inadvertent, suggesting that communicating a status of importance could reasonably lead to an advantage. The investigation did not find breaches related to Khan's interactions with the owner of Nottingham Forest or support for individuals involved in court proceedings.

Khan was elected to represent the Wollaton West ward in 2019 and held the ceremonial role of Sheriff for one year until May. This civic role is intended to promote Nottingham as a tourist destination and encourage residents to engage with the city's activities.

The report was due to be considered by the council's Standards and Governance Committee, but the meeting was adjourned. Khan's legal team has reportedly stated that the external report contains legal and factual errors.