Zafran Khan, a Nottingham City Council Labour councillor representing Wollaton West, has been found by an external investigation to have breached the code of conduct by exploiting his position as Sheriff to obtain substantial personal benefits. The investigation, conducted by legal firm Bevan Brittan and published on Thursday, identified breaches across three areas: gifts and hospitality, use of position, and disrepute. Khan, who became a councillor in 2019 and held the ceremonial Sheriff role until May 2026, is the brother of council leader Neghat Khan.
The complaint against Khan was first received on 18 September 2025, with the Standards and Governance Committee initially scheduled to meet on 15 October 2026 to discuss the case. However, the committee meeting was abandoned after Khan's lawyer raised concerns about a councillor on the panel, and no further hearing date has been confirmed.
How did Khan use his sheriff position for financial gain?
Khan contacted Jaguar Land Rover using his position as sheriff to negotiate repairs to his personal Land Rover vehicle. The company initially quoted him £30,000 for the work, but after he invoked his civic role, the repair cost was reduced to £7,500—a saving of £22,500. The investigation determined that Khan had breached the code of conduct "by seeking to use his position as sheriff and or councillor to advantage himself in respect of repairs to his Land Rover."
Khan claimed the Land Rover problem was unexpected and dangerous, causing him to lose sleep and appetite, and stated he had not intended to secure any benefit through his position. However, the report noted there was "no apparent legitimate reason for using his councillor email address" in the transaction.
What free hospitality and tickets did Khan accept?
Khan requested and accepted complimentary tickets to multiple events at the Motorpoint Arena, including performances by Canadian singer Tate MacRae, the stage adaptation of Paw Patrol, and Nottingham Panthers ice hockey matches. The investigation found that two of these events in the hospitality suite constituted breaches of the code and amounted to real or substantive personal gain.
Khan justified his attendance by saying it helped him understand the arena's operations and how audiences enjoyed the venue. However, he failed to declare these visits within the required 28-day window, only declaring them in 2025. Khan also failed to declare his attendance at the opening of The Ivy restaurant in Nottingham and complimentary visits to Nottingham Racecourse hospitality suite with guests.
In September 2025, Khan emailed The Ivy stating:
in my capacity as the Sheriff of Nottingham, I wondered if you would like me to attend your opening in Nottingham. My role is an ambassador of leisure, tourism and hospitality in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. He later informed the council he had been invited to the opening, though the investigation found this approach breached conduct rules.
What was Khan's defence?
Khan denied any wrongdoing and maintained he had abided by the rules as he genuinely understood them. He initially stated he was unaware of the code of conduct until around September 2025, but later revised this position, saying that even if he had been aware of the code, he had not fully understood it.
Regarding the hospitality events, Khan argued he did not believe any involved gifts or hospitality valued at £25 or more, the threshold requiring declaration under council rules. Councillors are required to declare any gifts or hospitality with an estimated value of £25 or above.
What did the investigation clear Khan of?
The investigation found no breach in relation to Khan's efforts to meet and host the owner of Nottingham Forest or his support for persons involved in court proceedings.
What is the Sheriff role?
The ceremonial Sheriff position is designed to promote Nottingham as a destination, welcome tourists to the city, and encourage residents to engage with local activities and attractions.
What happens next?
The Standards and Governance Committee is expected to decide whether any sanction should be imposed on Khan, though no further hearing date has been publicly confirmed. Council leader Neghat Khan was contacted for comment but was unable to participate in interviews while council procedures remained ongoing.
Key Facts
- Khan secured a £22,500 discount on Land Rover repairs by invoking his sheriff position, reducing the quoted price from £30,000 to £7,500
- He accepted free hospitality and event tickets worth more than £25 without declaring them within the required 28-day period
- The investigation identified breaches in three areas: gifts and hospitality, use of position, and disrepute
- Khan claimed he did not fully understand the code of conduct, initially stating he was unaware of it until September 2025
- The Standards and Governance Committee hearing was disrupted and no further date has been confirmed for the disciplinary decision
