Agenda and minutes

The Chair, Councillor Ian Pearson, welcomed Elected Members, Officers and members of the public. The meeting was led in prayer by the Civic Chaplain, Canon Reverend David Stevens.

It was MOVED by Councillor Glynis Smith and SECONDED by Councillor Linda Curran that Councillor Duncan Anderson be elected as Chair of Council of City of Doncaster Council for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Duncan Anderson be hereby elected as Chair of Council of City of Doncaster Council for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

It was MOVED by Councillor Leanne Hempshall and SECONDED by Councillor Sarah Smith that Councillor Julie Grace be elected as Vice-Chair of Council of City of Doncaster Council for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

RESOLVED that Councillor Julie Grace be hereby elected as Vice-Chair of Council of City of Doncaster Council for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

On behalf of the Council, Damian Allen, the Chief Executive, presented a Commemorative Badge to the retiring Chair of Council.  Flowers were presented to the outgoing Mayoress and the new Mayoress.

The Chair of Council, Councillor Duncan Anderson, delivered his inaugural speech

“Deputy Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Mayor Jones, Canon, Councillors, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I don’t think there is any other way I could begin but in thanking Glynis and Linda, for their kind words today in nominating me and the support and comradery I have been fortunate enough to enjoy in their company over the past six years.

Both of them alluded to my quite, diplomatic approach to politics, let me tell you the luxury of adopting such an approach is afforded to me only because I have these two formidable women backing me up.  

I also want to thank my mother, Fiona, both for agreeing to support me through the coming year as my mayoress, but also for raising me in the face of no little adversity, to be the kind of person who can stand here today worthy of the honour of being made mayor.

Thanks to go to everyone who has encouraged and supported me since I first entered politics, from my first election to today, I could not have got here without you.

But what all of you want to know is what am I going to do with my time in office, so let’s us start from where we are.

Doncaster’s Mansion house, one of few such still surviving, has been at the heart of civic life in this city for hundreds of years, and though the day to day business of politics and government may have moved out, this building still has a part to play, as a historic, cultural and social centre.

Supporting and championing the Mansion House is an integral part of the role of Civic Mayor and I will be picking up that baton and working with the Friends of the Mansion House and Council Officers to make sure this building is preserved and used to its best.

This Mansion House is a treasure and the opportunity to experience and enjoy it is the birth right of everyone in Doncaster.

To that end I will be organizing a series of events here.

When I have talked to my predecessors about their time in the chains, the most common theme has been that it has given them a new appreciation of the work volunteers of every kind do to hold society together. 

So throughout my year in office, I will be inviting volunteers from across Doncaster to take tea with me at the Mansion House, as a show of our appreciation for the work they do.

I hope to work with all of you Councillors to identify the groups in your wards who deserve to be celebrated, and invite you to attend when I am hosting them.

I hope that this will not be a one off this year but a mayoral tradition that will be taken up by those that follow me.

Traditions are a big part of this job, but they don’t just maintain themselves, I intend using my time  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

At the conclusion of item 5 above, the meeting will stand adjourned and reconvene at 2.00 pm in the Council Chamber in the Civic Office, Waterdale, Doncaster.

It was MOVED by Councillor Nigel Ball and SECONDED by Councillor Glyn Jones that the Council place on record its thanks and appreciation to Councillor Ian Pearson for the manner in which he had fulfilled his role as Chair of Council for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

Councillor Ian Pearson responded as follows:-

“Deputy Lord-Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Ladies and Gentlemen

It has been a tremendous honour for me to serve Doncaster as Civic Mayor.

It’s been an exciting, interesting, varied and extremely busy year and one that I have enjoyed immensely and will remember for the rest of my life.

It has been a year dominated by Royal events.  In June last year we celebrated the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and a host of events, locally and nationally brought people and communities together to show their love, respect and admiration for this country’s longest-serving monarch. As part of those Jubilee Celebrations, Doncaster was granted City Status, and I would like to talk about that a little later.

Then, just 3 months later, on the 8th of September 2022, the country received the very sad news that Her Majesty had died and we entered a period of national mourning. But it was also a time to welcome the new King, His Majesty King Charles III, and the proclamation was read, on the steps of the Mansion House on Sunday 11th September.

Then on the 9th November 2022, it was my very great honour and privilege to welcome His Majesty the King and the Queen Consort to the Mansion House in Doncaster where he officially presented the letters patent granting Doncaster City Status and, a few days ago we celebrated another Royal event as we witnessed the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III.

Returning to the Royal Visit, the awarding of city status represented a very special moment for the people of Doncaster. As I mentioned the honour was bestowed on us by the late Queen Elizabeth II as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, so it was particularly poignant, and a true privilege, that their Majesties King Charles III and the Queen Consort presented the Letter Patent in person.

The Royal ceremony signalled the start of an exciting new chapter in Doncaster’s history and although there are many challenges ahead, we move forward, together, with a renewed sense of community pride and hope for a prosperous future.

But of course, the year has been so much more, and it has been my great privilege to meet many interesting and inspiring people of all ages and from all walks of life. Just this week it was my great pleasure to host an afternoon tea at the Mansion House for a lady who has fostered children for over 45 years. To meet her and one of the children she fostered and listen to their experiences was truly inspirational and humbling. There are too many others to mention so I would just like to say a huge thank you to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

There were no declarations reported at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 27th February, 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, made the following announcements:-

Mayoral Plan

“We are now 2 years into this council term and it is an appropriate time to review progress and identify some short-to-medium term activity that will act as key stepping stones towards overall goals in making a Safer, Stronger, Cleaner and Green Doncaster for all.

Long-term ambitions for 2030 have been published both in the Doncaster Delivering Together borough strategy and in a suite of supporting strategies that sit beneath it. It’s important that we celebrate the significant progress that has been made and recognise the added scale of these achievements in the light of such difficult circumstances from the Covid pandemic to the current cost of living crisis.

These achievements do not belong to just one organisation, but to the range of partners that have navigated through sometimes conflicting individual priorities to find common ground and come together to use collective insight and resources to make a real difference to the lives of residents.

I would like to highlight some of the key developments to date, but to note there are many more achievements

•           Locality-specific plans and budgets have been developed, based on resident insights and priorities; and have refreshed the Council’s Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion framework to ensure it is an integrated consideration in all decision-making processes.

•           Residents have been supported through the cost-of-living crisis through information and advice and provided practical support in the form of a Household Support Fund. The Council have welcomed over 225 Ukrainian refugees to settle in Doncaster following the invasion of their home country by Russia.

•           Going forward, a Fairness and Wellbeing commission will report later this year their recommendations as to how the Council can go further to ensure equality and equity across the borough.

•          More resources will be put into targeted activity in certain neighbourhoods - to tackle antisocial behaviour, as well as to support access to parks, and leisure and cultural opportunities for the more vulnerable members of the communities.

•           Launching a kindness platform – celebrating the positive and inspiring stories of kindness across the borough and developing and enhancing early intervention support services through the creation of a new Community Prevention Service.

•           Significant investments in homecare and supported living to increase capacity to support people in their own homes and facilitate quicker hospital discharges.

•           The Council have invested over £9million in leisure facility improvements at Hatfield Outdoor centre and campsite, the Dome cycle circuit, and Armthorpe, Askern, and Rossington leisure centres - and a further £5million investment is ongoing at Thorne leisure centre.

•            The Council have brought together over 60 primary schools to form a Physical Education and Active schools network leading to increased physical activity for Doncaster children throughout the day,

•           Over £3million of investment planned as part of our Parks improvement programmes - which includes work in Denaby, Campsall, Town, Hexthorpe, Edlington, Mexborough and many others.

•           Over the last decade, we've seen 15,000 new  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Mayor Ros Jones firstly formally acknowledged the work of Councillor Andrea Robinson who for the past 2 years had been the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care.

Councillor Robinson had led considerable transformation of Adult Social Care services in Doncaster, including:

·    an established means by which user experience is used to shape services to deliver personalised care and support;

·    reduced waiting times for, and duration of assessments for services; and

·    the delivery of an All Age Carer's strategy, called 'We hear, we listen, we care, if you care' - this will ensure that such individuals will be supported to access whatever help is available to deliver this critical and much appreciated role.

Mayor Jones thanked Councillor Robinson for all she had done over the last two years and looked forward to continue working with her in her role as councillor.

Mayor Jones informed Council on the composition and constitution of the Executive for the 2023/24 Municipal Year, and announced that the Cabinet would be comprised as follows:-

Councillor Glyn Jones

Deputy Mayor and lead on Housing and Business

Councillor Lani-Mae Ball

Cabinet Member for Early Help, Education, Skills & Young People

Councillor Nigel Ball

Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities, Leisure and Culture

Councillor Joe Blackham

Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Enforcement

Councillor Rachel Blake

Cabinet Member for Children's Social Care and Equalities

Councillor Phil Cole

Cabinet Member for Finance, Traded Services and Planning

Councillor Mark Houlbrook

Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Waste

Councillor Jane Nightingale

Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources

Councillor Sarah Smith

Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care

Mayor Jones informed Council that she and Cabinet would work to deliver a safer, stronger, cleaner, greener and healthier Doncaster for all. Now that Doncaster had been granted City status, they would work to recover from the cost of living crisis by working at local level within the rural and urban communities of the city to make necessary changes.

            RESOLVED that the report on the composition of the Executive, be             noted.

The Council considered a report which sought approval for proposed revisions to the Terms of Reference for the Audit Committee.

The Terms of Reference were approved at Council each year and ensured that the highest standards of governance were met and allowed for the proper discharge of functions.

The Council noted that changes had been proposed to the Terms of Reference to the Audit Committee, these were highlighted at paragraphs 8-12 of the report and appended at Appendix A, with proposed deletions shown as crossed through, and additions in bold italics.

            RESOLVED that:

(1)        the proposed revisions to the Terms of Reference set out at paragraphs 8 to 12 and in Appendix A, be approved

            (2)       the existing Terms of Reference for all other Committees and                        Sub-Committees of the Council, as set out within Part 3 of the                   Constitution, remain unchanged; and

            (3)       the Constitution be updated to reflect the revisions to the Terms                   of Reference as agreed.

(Notice - Approval of alternative arrangements for appointments to some Committees and Sub-Committees on a non-proportionate basis, is to be considered).

The Council considered a report which proposed the allocation of seats on Committees and Sub-Committees of the Council, having regard to political balance in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government and Housing Act, 1989.

The Council was also advised of adjustments necessary to reflect a best proportionate fit in accordance with the principles of proportionality, as set out within paragraph 28 of the report.

It was reported that following the dispatch of the agenda papers, a list of Political Group nominations for the appointment of Members to serve on Committees, Sub-Committees and Scrutiny Panels, had been circulated to Members and tabled at the meeting, which outlined nominations received from Group Leaders.

The Council was also requested to make appointments and co?options to other Committees of the Council, not subject to the requirement for proportional balance.

Members noted that the proposed allocation of seats set out in the report, was based on:-

(i)            Proportionality being applied to the Committees/Sub-Committees shown in the table below based on the membership indicated:-

(ii)          Proportionality would not apply to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, or the four Overview & Scrutiny Standing Panels, in order to maximise cross-party representation;

(iii)         The Licensing Committee, set up under the Licensing Act 2003, need not be politically proportionate.  However, in seeking nominations from Group Leaders onto these 14 seats, these had been sought in proportion to the overall composition on the Council.  The appointment of Licensing Sub-Committees to conduct hearings under Section 10 of the Licensing Act 2003, was a statutory function reserved by the Act to the statutory Licensing Committee.  Accordingly, it was a matter for the Licensing Committee to appoint these Sub-Committees and to schedule any required meetings; and

(iv)         Proportionality would not apply to the Health and Wellbeing Board in accordance with legislative requirements.

Councillor Steve Cox notified Council of a change to the Conservative Group nomination on the Parish Council Joint Consultative Committee at page 12 of Appendix A as follows:

Councillor Richard Allan Jones to replace Councillor Steve Cox.

            RESOLVED that:-

                (1)          seats on Committees and Sub-Committees be allocated as set                     out in the table at paragraph 25 of the report, subject to the                                 Labour Group losing 1 seat on the Chief Officers Appeals                         Committee and the Mexborough First Group losing 1 on the                              Awards, Grants and Transport (Appeals) Committee;

(2)        as a consequence of the loss of the 2 seats detailed at (1)     above, the two seats, 1 seat to be allocated to the Conservative        Group and 1 seat be allocated to the Independent Member,   Councillor Rob Reid, as follows:-

(a)      Conservative Group

·      Awards, Grants and Transport (Appeals) Committee (Councillor Martin Greenhalgh)

(b)     Councillor Rob Reid

·      Chief Officers Appeals Committees

(3)        the membership of Committees and Sub-Committees  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Council considered a list of political nominations for the appointment of Members to serve as Chairs and Vice-Chairs on Committees, Sub-Committees and Scrutiny Panels, for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.  The list of nominations had been circulated to Members and tabled at the meeting, following the dispatch of agenda papers.

It was noted that in accordance with Rule 3 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, Council looked to ensure that not all Chairs and Vice-Chairs were drawn from the same Political Party.

RESOLVED that the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Committees and Sub-Committees for the 2023/24 Municipal Year, be as follows:-

The Council considered a report which sought the appointment of representatives to the schedule of Council Appointments to Outside Bodies for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.  The list of nominations had been circulated to Members and tabled at the meeting, following the dispatch of agenda papers.

The Council were advised that there had been 2 nominations for the one vacancy on the Lady Ellerker Land Trust. The Labour Group have nominated Mr Chris Watson and the Conservative Group have nominated Councillor Richard Allan Jones. The Chair reminded Council of the procedure and how the vote will be undertaken. Candidates were voted upon in alphabetical order of surname.

A vote was taken to appoint Councillor Richard Allan Jones as the Conservative Group nomination and the vote was declared as follows:-

For:    11        Against:        0          Abstain:        0

A vote was undertaken to appoint Mr Chris Watson as the Labour Group nomination and the vote was declared as follows:-

For:    34        Against          0          Abstain:        0

On being put to the vote, it was declared that Mr Chris Watson be appointed to the vacancy on Lady Ellerker Land Trust.

RESOLVED

1)     that the Council appointments to Outside Bodies, as set out in the schedule attached to these minutes at Appendix B, be approved; and

2)    Further to the motion approved by Council, Mr Chris Watson be appointed to the Lady Ellerker Trust.

Members considered the Diary of Meetings for 2023/25, which detailed the dates of all meetings and scheduled events for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 Municipal Years.

The draft diary had previously been considered at the Council Meeting on 19th January, 2023, and had allowed Members the opportunity to make any changes, if necessary.

RESOLVED that

(1)      the proposed Diary of Meetings for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 Municipal Years, as attached at Appendix A to the report, be approved; and

(2)      the schedule of Cabinet Meetings as determined by the Mayor of Doncaster, be noted.

The Council considered a report presented by Councillor Jane Nightingale, Cabinet Member for Corporate Services, which outlined 2023/24 Member Training and Development Programme, and training undertaken during 2022/23.  The provisional Training and Development Programme for 2023/24, was attached at Appendix A and that Officers were currently working to confirm dates and times of some of the sessions, and Members would be advised of these in due course.

It was noted that the cross-party Member Development Working Group would continue to review Member development and training, and which would also identify further training and development needs, and opportunities during the course of the year.  Additional Training and Development Activities were outlined within paragraph 19 of the report.

            RESOLVED that

(1)      the Member training and development undertaken during 2022/23, be noted;

(2)      the programme of Member Development activities and Seminars scheduled for 2023/24, as detailed within Appendix A to the report, including the list of training deemed to be mandatory for all Members and for specific groups of Members, be approved; and

(3)      the Member Development Programme be further updated over the course of the year, in consultation with the Member Development Working Group.

The Council considered a report, presented by the Councillor Nigel Ball, which proposed the adoption of the Auckley Neighbourhood Development Plan, as part of the Statutory Development Plan for the Borough following a successful Referendum result.

It was reported that Auckley Parish Council had produced a Neighbourhood Development Plan for the Parish boundary which was known as the Designated Boundary.  The Parish Council and the Planning Policy and Environment Team at the Council, had worked collaboratively to ensure that the Local Plan and the Auckley Neighbourhood Plan, did not conflict with each other.

Members were informed that the total electorate in Auckley was 3,624 and that the turnout for the Referendum was 12.44%.  451 papers had been issued with 405 voted in favour, 46 voted against, with 0 papers being rejected.  Subsequently, in accordance with Section 38A of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, as amended, Full Council was required to adopt the Auckley Neighbourhood Plan.

Following the presentation of the report, Members of the Council were afforded the opportunity to comment on the report.

RESOLVED that the Auckley Neighbourhood Development Plan be adopted as part of the Statutory Development Plan for the Borough.