Agenda and minutes

(A period not exceeding 20 minutes for questions and statements from

members of the public and Elected Members to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones. Questions/Statements should relate specifically to an item of business on the agenda and be limited to a maximum of 100 words. As stated within Executive Procedure Rule 3.3 each person will be allowed to submit one question/statement per meeting.A question may only be asked if notice has been given by delivering it in writing or by e-mail to the Governance Team no later than 5.00 p.m. of the third working day before the day of the meeting. Each question or statement must give the name and address of the person submitting it. Questions/Statements should be sent to the Governance Team, Floor 2, Civic Office, Waterdale, Doncaster, DN1 3BU, or by email to Democratic.Services@doncaster.gov.uk)

Councillor Nick Allen asked the Mayor Ros Jones the following question:-

'Do you think your budget demonstrates value for money? How much of the report was officer led and does the budget reflect your manifesto commitments or the policies of national government?'

In the absence of Councillor Nick Allen, the Mayor said she would provide a written response to his question.  The written response sent is:-

“These budget proposals continue to deliver my priority of ensuring the Council is able to provide efficient and effective public services, whilst investing in the future of the borough and its residents, despite the harsh austerity measures imposed on Doncaster by central Government.

The punitive Government cuts will not lower my ambitions for our borough and its people. I have made clear my priorities, to help drive forward our economy, increase job creation, raise education standards, build more homes and support residents and communities across Doncaster. In developing the budget we set a remit to protect, and indeed improve, vital front line services, particularly those which support vulnerable people. To do this, we are living within our means, modernising services and striving to deliver value for money in all of our work. I am proud of the effectiveness we have already achieved, improving services through initiatives like our Smart light programme, whilst making savings that minimise the impact of the Government cuts on our residents.

That said, I am extremely disappointed at the Government’s complete failure to deal with the national funding problems facing adult social care and the health service. Their answer, which is to underfund vital services and yet increase the financial burden on local taxpayers, is frankly outrageous. It places strain on to those who can least afford it, through a regressive tax system that benefits wealthy areas over places like Doncaster and South Yorkshire.

The budget has been developed collaboratively to deliver my priorities and those agreed by the Council and I am grateful for members of Overview and Scrutiny for their input and support for the proposals. I have received no feedback from any other political groups on the Council, which I would have been willing to consider. Given that I published the draft proposals in November to allow for input from all Councillors and it is now mid-February, I assume that there will be no late political games from the opposition and that the budget will be supported unanimously in the Council Chamber in two weeks time.

We are seeing the highest levels of employment for more than 10 years, record house building, improved school standards and a transformation of Council services. All have been positively influenced by our work and these proposals build on the solid foundations that we have put in place over the last three years.

We are sticking to that plan and it is paying dividends for Doncaster”.

Decision records dated 31st January, 2017, were noted.