As England faces £2bn council tax rise, Nottingham pays highest bill

The city's leader says that a huge financial shortfall and the levy hike will not stop redevelopment plans going ahead

The home of Robin Hood is ready to welcome back international visitors following a 30m refit of the castle that, during the middle ages, played host to its notoriously villainous sheriff. But the East Midlands city will become more infamous over the next fortnight - for levying the highest rate of council tax in England, sending band D bills up 107, to 2,226.

The city's Labour council leader David Mellen says the rise is needed after a decade of austerity and the government's failure to bridge a spending shortfall that forced all councils to increase bills by a collective 2bn before the economy is back on its feet.