Full Breakdown
Former Sheriff of Nottingham Accused of Multiple Code-of-Conduct Breaches
By Drooid · · How we work
Alleged Breaches and Investigation Findings
An external investigation commissioned by Nottingham City Council and carried out by Bevan Brittan LLP concluded that Labour councillor Zafran Khan – who served as the ceremonial Sheriff of Nottingham from 2025 to May 2026 – breached the council’s Code of Conduct on eight occasions. The breaches fall into three categories:
- Gifts and hospitality – failure to declare hospitality at The Ivy restaurant, three visits to the Nottingham Racecourse hospitality suite, and two events at the Motorpoint Arena that were not reported within the required 28-day period.
- Use of position – leveraging his sheriff and councillor status to obtain a discount on repairs to his Land Rover, reducing the cost from an estimated £30,000 to £7,500, a saving of roughly £22,500.
- Disrepute – attending events (a Tate McRae concert on June 22, a Paw Patrol children’s show on August 10, and a Nottingham Panthers ice-hockey match on September 12) with guests, where the report judged the tickets to constitute “real or substantive personal gain”.
The investigation noted that Khan registered the hospitality visits later in 2025, with the final registration of the Motorpoint Arena tickets on 26 September 2025.
Background & Context
The Sheriff of Nottingham is a ceremonial post intended to promote the city and welcome tourists. Khan, elected to represent the Wollaton West ward in 2019, is the brother of council leader Neghat Khan. A complaint about his conduct was first lodged on 18 September (year not specified), prompting the council to refer the matter to its Standards and Governance Committee.
Data & Statistics
| Category | Specific Findings |
|---|---|
| Discount on car repairs | Initial quote £30,000; final charge £7,500; discount ? £22,500 |
| Undeclared hospitality | 1 × The Ivy, 3 × Nottingham Racecourse, 2 × Motorpoint Arena (total eight breaches) |
| Event tickets obtained | 4 × Tate McRae, 6 × Paw Patrol, 6 × Nottingham Panthers |
Official Statements & Responses
- Khan’s legal team – Mannat Malhi of Matrix Chambers submitted a 16-page brief asserting that Khan acted in good faith, that the discounted repair was a “goodwill gesture,” and that the hospitality was taken in his “civic capacity.”
- Council spokesperson – Nottingham City Council confirmed that the Standards and Governance Committee’s meeting on 15 October was abandoned after Khan’s lawyers raised concerns about a potential pre-determination by a committee member. The hearing will be rescheduled, with no new date set.
- Council leader’s office – Neghat Khan was unavailable for comment while the investigation is ongoing, as reported by the BBC.
Why It Matters
The case underscores scrutiny of elected officials’ use of ceremonial roles for personal benefit. Breaches of the £25-value threshold for gifts and hospitality trigger formal investigations and can lead to sanctions, including training recommendations or more severe penalties.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Discount amount – The BBC described the discount as “more than £20,000,” while the Nottinghampost provided a precise figure of £22,500.
- Status of the hearing – Sources agree the October 15 meeting was halted, yet no subsequent date has been announced.
What’s Next
The Standards and Governance Committee is expected to reconvene once a quorum can be assembled and any perceived bias among members is resolved. The committee will decide whether the eight identified breaches constitute formal violations and, if so, what sanctions—if any—will be imposed.