Nottingham Sheriff Accused of Abusing Role for Personal Gain

A former Sheriff of Nottingham is accused of abusing his ceremonial role to gain personal benefits, including a significant discount on Land Rover repairs and complimentary tickets to various events. An external report details allegations that Labour councillor Zafran Khan used his official capacity to secure a £22,500 reduction on a £30,000 repair bill for his Land Rover by emailing the dealership from his council account and signing off as 'The Sheriff of Nottingham.'

The report, conducted by legal firm Bevan Brittan, found that there was no legitimate reason for Khan to use his council email for the transaction and suggested it was likely used to seek an advantage. Khan initially claimed the Land Rover repair was unexpected and dangerous, causing him significant distress during a difficult personal period following his uncle's death. He also cited being 'very tired' and not fully understanding council conduct rules due to late-night induction training after his election in May 2019.

Hospitality and Gifts

In addition to the vehicle repairs, Khan allegedly requested and accepted free tickets to multiple events at the Motorpoint Arena, including performances by Tate McRae, a stage adaptation of 'Paw Patrol,' and Nottingham Panthers ice hockey games. The report also noted his failure to declare attendance at the opening of The Ivy restaurant in Nottingham. Khan had contacted the restaurant stating his role as Sheriff of Nottingham, an ambassador of leisure, tourism, and hospitality for the city.

Councillors are required to declare any gifts or hospitality valued at £25 or more. Khan reportedly stated that the hospitality at The Ivy, consisting of a glass of prosecco and an orange juice, was valued at less than £25 and therefore did not require declaration. He also accepted complimentary visits to the Nottingham racecourse hospitality suite with guests, which were not declared.

Khan stated that Nottingham Racecourse initially invited him to visit to help attract more BME visitors. He also claimed he did not declare tickets to Motorpoint Arena shows because they were complimentary and incurred no cost to the council, which owns the venue. However, the report found no formal civic role for him at these events and noted he was seated with friends in a hospitality box, making any incidental civic role unlikely.

Investigation and Denials

Complaints regarding Khan's conduct were first received in September of the previous year. The Bevan Brittan report concluded that Khan had breached the council's Code of Conduct concerning gifts and hospitality, use of position, and bringing the council into disrepute. Khan has denied any wrongdoing, though he acknowledged a lack of full understanding of the Code of Conduct.

His legal team has reportedly taken issue with the external report, intending to argue that it contains legal and factual errors. The report's findings have not yet been considered by the council's Standards and Governance Committee. A scheduled meeting to discuss the findings and potential sanctions was abandoned after an opposition councillor drew a comparison between Khan and Nigel Farage, who faces allegations of accepting illegal donations.

Zafran Khan was elected to represent the Wollaton West ward in 2019 and held the ceremonial Sheriff of Nottingham role for one year until May. The role is primarily focused on promoting Nottingham as a tourist destination and encouraging resident engagement with city activities. Zafran Khan is the brother of council leader Neghat Khan, though she is not implicated in the investigation.