Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held on 19th May, 2023, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member, be agreed as a true record and signed by the Chair of Council.

The Chair of Council, Councillor Duncan Anderson, made the following announcement:-

“I am sure Members of Council would support me in welcoming our Chief Executive back from his short period of illness.  It was a very serious illness, and the outcome could have been much worse.

He is very lucky to be back and getting back into the swing of things, but organisationally, we need to give him time and space to recover and support him during his period of recovery.”

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

“Today marks a whole year since Peel announced their strategic review into the future of Doncaster Sheffield Airport. From day one, the City of Doncaster Council stepped up to find solutions to keep the Airport open.  We went to the open market to identify potential buyers, we offered to underwrite any losses for over 12 months in order to secure a private sale, and we even offered to buy the Airport freehold. Unfortunately, all of which were turned down by Peel.

As we progress with the South Yorkshire Airport Programme, it is important to demonstrate the complexity of the programme and the various discussions we are having with both Peel, the Department for Transport, the Civil Aviation Authority, investors and operators on a number of fronts.  Importantly, we are still in complex but progressive negotiations with Peel in relation to a leasehold of the Airport site.  We are currently engaging with potential investors and operators who would work with us, if successful in obtaining a leasehold, and we have made representations to both the DFT and CAA in regards to retaining our airspace.

Getting our Airport re-opened is my number one priority; the economic potential could be great over the medium to long term, and the jewel in the crown of Doncaster and the wider region.  I want to see an aviation cluster of businesses around the Airport alongside both freight and passenger flights.  We are currently finalising a financial viability assessment and business case, all of which currently look positive.

I am resolute in my determination to see our Airport reopen and I ask that all Councillors support these efforts. I will ensure you are all kept updated as we progress with our efforts.

My second announcement sadly relates to our bid for a new Hospital which was turned down by the Government; this is incredibly disappointing.  An incredibly strong bid was put forward that would have seen a new state-of-the-art Hospital that would serve Doncaster for the 21st century.

We have a site already identified within the City Centre that is shovel ready, largely owned by this Council, and remediation planned that is being paid for from Levelling Up Funding and regional gainshare funding.  A new Hospital would be a true commitment to levelling up Doncaster.

We will continue to lobby for a new Hospital for Doncaster.  However, our Hospital is in urgent need of repairs now.  The current maintenance back log has worrying implications for patient  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

None received for this meeting.

There were no questions on notice received from the public for this meeting.

The Council considered a report, introduced by Councillor Lani-Mae Ball, Cabinet Member for Early Help, Education, Skills and Young People, which sought approval of the Youth Justice Plan 2023/24.

It was reported that the plan highlighted some excellent performance and notable achievements by the Youth Offending Service in the past year, and also one particular area of challenge.  The plan was informed and shaped by the experiences and voices of young people.  The Service continued to work to reduce re-offending with young people which had been an historic area of strength and remained so.

Members noted that the Service was within the top quartile of Authorities with the lowest re-offending rates in England and Wales.  This had been achieved through the Team’s relationship based, trauma informed practice model, and young people’s direct access to therapeutic and clinical services.

Members were informed that over the last two years, the custody rate had been affected by a serious incident involving young people not known to the Service, and therefore, a target was set of no more than two young people known to the Service receiving a custodial sentence and this had been achieved.  The First Time Entrant rate had exceeded the target, which was a process rather than a practice issue, due to delays within the Criminal Justice System linked to the pandemic.  However, the team was confident that all children from this period had now been progressed through the Service.

It was also reported that the Plan set out targets for 2023/24, which were highly ambitious, which included:-

·      To ensure the first-time entrant rate achieved the target, which was set at 124 young people per 100,000, which was achieved through the work of Encouraging Potential Inspiring Change (EPIC) and the Youth Justice Team;

·      The reoffending target had been set at 22.  If this was achieved, this would represent Doncaster’s lowest ever annualised reoffending rate; and

·      A non-statutory target had been set this year to bring the rate of Children who were looked after in the criminal justice system, to a level which was comparable to children who were not looked after.

The plan also highlighted some notable achievements in 2022/23, including the continuation of a strong therapeutic offer for children and families, and good performance in relation to Education, Training and Employment outcomes.  The EPIC Town Centre Hub continued to support large numbers of young people in the City, and EPIC was developing further Virtual Reality experiences for use as an educative tool for both young people and the professionals working with them.

RESOLVED that the Youth Justice Plan 2023/24, be approved.

The Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board, Councillor Rachael Blake, presented the Board’s Second Annual Report which provided an overview of the work received by the Health and Wellbeing Board and a flavour of work undertaken since the last annual report in July, 2022.

It was reported that there were three broad themes highlighted throughout the report which were the 3 life courses.  Starting well examples included updates on children’s and young people’s mental health strategy/5-19 service, eating disorders and autism services, safeguarding and recommendations for a breastfeeding policy in the Council, and wider partners where possible.

The Living well updates included mental health transformation/learning disability and autism strategy, substance misuse, carers, homelessness, problem gambling and the adults safeguarding report.

Ageing well included updates on enhanced health care in care homes, urgent community responses and virtual wards, dementia services and the ambition to be an age friendly City.  Doncaster had now been accepted in June 2023, to be part of the UK network to become an age friendly City and work was ongoing.

Members were informed of other areas in the report which included ways of working such as Get Doncaster Moving, compassionate approach to weight and the Well Doncaster approaches and also the update on the Fairness and Wellbeing Commission, and how it linked to the Board with its forthcoming recommendations.  It was also noted that there was a reference to the Economic Strategy and the Integrated Care Partnership, and its wider place implications.

In concluding her presentation, Councillor Blake outlined the recommendations for the next year which were detailed in the report.

RESOLVED that Health and Wellbeing Board Second Annual Report 2022/23, be noted and published.

The Council considered the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report, which highlighted the progress of Doncaster Council’s Overview and Scrutiny function during 2022/23. The report also provided a summary of the work undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee (OSMC) and its four Standing Panels, and highlighted some of the key achievements and the impacts that Overview and Scrutiny had made over the past year, and identified priorities for 2023/23.

In presenting the report, the Chair of the OSMC, Councillor Jane Kidd, thanked Members, the Executive, Officers, Partners, Stakeholders, young advisers and the public, who had taken the time to participate in meetings and contribute to Overview and Scrutiny during the last Municipal Year.

It was reported that the 2022/23 Annual Report highlighted a number of activities and achievements which were important to Overview and Scrutiny including how it had engaged with the public and partners, held decision makers to account, contributed to policy development and provided an opportunity for Members to consider issues they felt were important to the residents of the Borough.  The report also showed how its work aligned and contributed to the Doncaster Growing Together priorities.

Members noted that moving forward to 2023/24, Overview and Scrutiny’s work plans would reflect the Doncaster Delivering Together, Wellbeing Goals and Outcomes, and Great 8 priorities, which would help keep a strategic focus and positively contribute to improving services within the Borough.

The Chair then invited the four Standing Overview and Scrutiny Panel Chairs to highlight some of the key achievements and the impacts that the Panels had accomplished.

In concluding her presentation, Councillor Kidd asked Members to either contact her, or any Chair the Standing Panels or Officers, if they had any issues for consideration at future Scrutiny meetings or reviews.

RESOLVED that the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2022/23, be noted.

The Council considered a report which sought approval to bestow the honour of Freedom of the City on Lord Kirkham.

It was reported that this nomination sought to acknowledge the commercial, charitable, social and civic contributions Lord Kirkham had made to promote the reputation and prosperity of the City of Doncaster.  It was felt that his elevation to the status of Freeman of the City would demonstrate the Council’s appreciation for the things he had done for the local area.

Members noted that Lord Kirkham had been a lifelong resident of Doncaster.  He was born, educated and raised in the county, whilst developing a number of very successful businesses.  Having accumulated a multi-million pound business empire, he had always remained committed to living in the area; contributing to its economy, charities and promoting its reputation and his two main businesses had created employment for numerous local people over decades.  Lord Kirkham acquired Cantley Hall in 1990 and had invested in the restoration and maintenance of the estate, using local tradesmen and businesses, and he continued to provide employment through the upkeep of the house and grounds and ran some aspects of his business activities from there. He has also used the Hall to entertain royals, dignitaries and celebrities to promote Doncaster’s reputation.

It was also noted that in 1996, he was Knighted and in 1999, he was created Lord Baron Kirkham KCVO for his contributions to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme, Prince’s Trust and Animal Welfare charities.  He had also supported local schools providing an IT/computer suite and financially assisted the Doncaster Deaf Trust and the ‘Firefly’ Cancer Support charity.  His companies had also provided significant donations to fund Cancer Research through the University of Bradford.

RESOLVED that the application to bestow the Freedom of the Borough on Lord Kirkham, be supported.

(i)        Questions on Notice to the Executive:-

None received for this meeting.

(ii)          Questions without Notice to the Executive and the Chairs of Committees.

A.   Questions on Notice

No questions on Notice from Elected Members had been received for this meeting.

B.   Questions Without Notice

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.2, the Chair of Council sought questions from Elected Members during Question Time.

A.   Questions to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones

There were no questions put to the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones.

B.   Questions to the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Housing and Business

There were no questions put to the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, Cabinet Member for Housing and Business.

C.   Questions to Councillor Lani-Mae Ball, Cabinet Member for Early Help, Education, Skills and Young People

Q.    Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following question:-

“Children and young people’s education and development is falling behind after Covid.  Does the recovery plan include extending school term time and school hours?  This would improve education and development, and it would also improve young people’s safety.”

A.  Councillor Lani-Mae Ball gave the following reply:-

“You mention about education catch up which has been discussed nationally.  What we are missing here is the mental health and wellbeing of our children, and young people.  There may be a delay in terms of GCSE or SATs results, but we know that children and young people are not defined by their grades; they are defined by their ability to be at School and to lead healthy and happy lives.  There is a focus around education and they are getting that in School. 

I would not support extending School term time into the holidays.  I do not think that any Schoolteachers would want that either; they work hard enough.  What we need to do is to invest in more staff within our Schools, so we can have smaller classroom sizes.  We also need to invest in better mental health services, so that we can have School Nurses working in our Schools. 

We need to listen to the voices of our children and young people, and the experiences of staff who have to deal with behaviour management issues.  It is the mental health and wellbeing that the children are struggling with.”

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.7, Councillor Cynthia Ransome asked the following supplementary question:-

Q.   “Considering that schools finish at 2.30pm, surely this has got to help towards Anti-Social Behaviour with children, because who is supervising them?”

A.  Councillor Lani-Mae Ball gave the following reply:-

“Some Schools finish at 2.30pm, but not every School.  Schools are required by Government to deliver a 35 hour week.  In terms of outside of School, we do not want children locked up in School all day.  What we desperately need are Youth Services.  Since 2010, there has been a 60% cut to Youth Services. Children and young people need to be supported by Youth Workers and have access to safe and inclusive activities that they can access within their communities.  It is not about locking them up from 7.00 am in the morning until 7.00 pm at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

A.  South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board held on 6th March and 5th June, 2023.

B.   South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Local Enterprise Partnership Board held on 9th March and 18th May, 2023.

C.  South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority held on 9th January, 20th February and 3rd April, 2023.

D.  South Yorkshire Pensions Authority held on 9th February and 16th March, 2023.

E.  South Yorkshire Pensions Authority Local Pension Board held on 2nd February and 27th April, 2023.

F.  South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel held on 3rd February and 24th April, 2023.

G.  Team Doncaster Strategic Partnership held on 13th December, 2022.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the following Joint Authorities meetings be noted:-

A.  South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board held on 6th March and 5th June, 2023.

B.   South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Local Enterprise Partnership Board held on 9th March and 18th May, 2023.

C.  South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority held on 9th January, 20th February and 3rd April, 2023.

D.  South Yorkshire Pensions Authority held on 9th February and 16th March, 2023.

E.  South Yorkshire Pensions Authority Local Pension Board held on 2nd February and 27th April, 2023.

F.  South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel held on 3rd February and 24th April, 2023.

G.  Team Doncaster Strategic Partnership held on 13th December, 2022.