Agenda item

Prior to consideration by Cabinet and Full Council, the Committee was provided with a presentation and report seeking Members views on the new Borough Strategy ‘Doncaster Delivering Together’ and the delivery programme up to 2030. 

It was explained that the Strategy proposed new ways of working to respond to local need and required input from across the whole of the Council and a wide range of public services, voluntary and community organisations, residents and the business community.  The presentation outlined:

·         Engagement Activity and what it told us;

·         DGT (Doncaster Growing Together) 2017-2021;

·         Components of the DDT:

Vision:            Cleaner and Green Doncaster;

                        Skill and Creative Doncaster;

                        Prosperous and Connected Doncaster;

                        Safe and Resilient Doncaster;

                        Healthy and Compassionate Doncaster;  and

                        Fair and Inclusive Doncaster.

Great 8 (cross cutting) priorities:

1.    Tackle climate change;

2.    Skills to thrive in life and work;

3.    Best place to do business and create good jobs;

4.    Build opportunities for healthier, happier and longer lives for all;

5.    Safer, cleaner and stronger communities where everyone belongs;

6.    A child and family-friendly borough;

7.    Transport and digital connections fit for the future;  and

8.    Promote the borough and its cultural, sporting and heritage opportunities.

At the conclusion of the presentation, the following areas were discussed by the Panel:

Making the document accessible and public friendly – this would be achieved through each partner who already had a record of delivering the Doncaster Growing Together.  The Strategy would include a 1 page simple summary of the document and engagements.  All the good work undertaken would be highlighted through a strapline, the “festival of hope”, at every opportunity.

Gold, Silver, Bronze Locality working – Members were pleased with how the system worked, for example tackling anti-social behaviour and crime, noting that the Silver partnership level would ensure resources were co-ordinated and focused in the correct areas, strengthening the Borough’s response.  In response to concern relating to smaller areas of deprivation being forgotten, it was stressed that any response to an issue or challenge through the DDT, was intelligence led.

Flexibility of the DDT – It was recognised that there had been a number of new Councillors elected and its stressed that the development of this Strategy would require flexibility to move with the Borough’s needs and change and would provide an ongoing opportunity for everyone to be involved and contribute to its continued development.  A Councillor stressed that they appreciated the DDT’s transparency and thought it outlined to residents the good work that had been undertaken and would continue.

Resources – it was recognised that Local Authority funding was limited therefore concern was expressed with regard to ambitious delivery.  It was explained that there was no clear answer to where funding would be met, however each action would be broken down, and undertaken piece by piece achieving funding as the Strategy moved forward.  For example, resources could be achieved through the Government, partners, the Local authority or the Mayoral combined authority but the partnership would continue to work together to deliver to provide funding.

Attracting a strong workforce to Doncaster – in response to a question it was explained that the current context around recruitment was difficult with the supply of labour to some business sectors currently being constrained.  It was recognised that the pandemic and Brexit had had a significant impact on supply of goods and materials. 

It was noted that work had been undertaken by the Advanced Team in Economy and Enterprise with Academies to better understand business employment and recruitment needs, ensuring young people were prepared to enter employment.  The work being undertaken by the Local Authority and partners was recognised however, it was stressed that both the school and housing offer was an important factor to attract families to the area.

Lessons Learnt from previous Strategies – it was noted that a success document would sit alongside the strategy, with the following discussed:

·         the development of relationships across the partnership have ensured goals were met with strong direction from the partnership meetings.  The partnership would seek to continue building strong relationships with shared priorities and accountability;

·         Receiving and learning from views of the public and through the partnership evidence shows concerns have been addressed;  and

·         Ensuring the partnership was flexible, agile and not too fixed on details to ensure a response could be made to any situation.

·         Communication of important messages to educate, for example, climate change challenge.

The Committee stressed that it was imperative to encourage case studies, engaging with people to learn from their lived experience.

Settlement hierarchy within the Local Plan – during discussion and relating to the previous agenda item, it was explained there was no specific reference to the Roman Ridge ward as it fell within the Doncaster Urban area.

RESOLVED that the DDT, be supported.