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. on Friday 15th September, 2023. 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)

Questions had been received from Councillors Jane Cox, Steve Cox, Mr Robert Jacklin, Mrs Lynn Regan, Mr Michael Regan, and Mr Mark Chadwick.

Councillor Jane Cox was in attendance and read out the following question:-

“What safeguards has the Mayor put in place to protect the solvency of Doncaster Council in the event CDC negotiate and sign a lease with Peel and are then unable to secure a deal with an operator referenced in paragraph 122. I understand there is confidence this situation will not occur but is there a Plan B”?

The Mayor thanked Councillor Cox for her question and provided the following response:-

“The Council is at an early stage of the lease negotiations. However we expect there to be provisions for early termination. We have a range of aviation experts and advisors alongside the legal support who will continue to advise on such matters.”

Councillor Cox asked the following supplementary question:-

“Will the land revert back to Peel or will City of Doncaster Council be able to use the land for other potential economic benefit”?

Debbie Hogg, Director of Corporate Resources stated that details were not known at this stage as negotiations were ongoing. The details would be advised at a later stage.

In the absence of Councillor Steve Cox, Mayor Ros Jones read out his question as follows:-

“We have two reports now from the Mayor. One in July and one in September.

In July we were told the airport would deliver
35,650 jobs
£1.56bn GVA
5.4m catchment

In September, 8 weeks later, this has now changed!

16,500 jobs
£1.56bn GVA
6.2m catchment

Jobs down by 19,150 = 46% LESS
GVA exactly the same even though dramatically less jobs.
Catchment up by 0.8m = 14.8% UP

We need to trust what we are being told. What has changed in the last 8 weeks that justify these dramatic changes? What is the truth? Will these figures change again and if so why”?

The Mayor thanked Councillor Steve Cox for his question and provided the following response, and a copy of the response would be forwarded to Councillor Cox following the meeting:-

“The figures in the July report are prior to us commissioning an economic assessment and taken from the ‘Gateway East Economic Blueprint FINAL DRAFT June 2020.

This was prepared by Genecon on behalf of Peel in a vastly different economic climate to the current situation. For example, it was prior to DSA closure, assuming a passenger demand forecast of 12m per year by 2050. The report also assumed a wider spatial area of influence than our commissioned analysis undertaken by Jacobs on the Strategic Outline Business Case in August this year.

The reality is that it will most likely change again, as the commercial arrangements are progressed”.

In the absence of Mr Robert Jacklin, Mayor Ros Jones read out his question as follows:-

"The airport is projected to have 2 million passengers within a decade, 2025-2034. You have stated that it will return a positive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

(Appendix A to the report is NOT FOR PUBLICATION because it contains exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the authority holding that information) of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended)