The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee was scheduled to meet on 11 December 2025 to discuss the council's financial and performance improvements, key performance indicators from St Leger Homes of Doncaster, and the committee's work plan. The meeting was also scheduled to include a period for public statements.

Here's a summary of the topics that were listed for discussion:

Quarter 2 Finance and Performance Improvement

The committee was scheduled to review the 2025-26 Quarter 2 Finance and Performance Improvement Report. The report noted that the council continued to operate within its Corporate Plan, focusing on agreed priorities while adapting to emerging opportunities. Key achievements included community engagement through the 'Big Neighbourhood Conversation' and a 'Good' rating from the Care Quality Commission¹ for Adult Social Care Services.

The report stated that the economic outlook remained uncertain, with inflation at 3.8% in September 2025. Doncaster's economy was performing close to regional benchmarks, with employment and wage levels just below the Yorkshire and Humber averages.

The report pack stated that the projected outturn position at quarter 2 was a £5.2 million overspend, a reduction of £1.4 million compared to quarter 1. This included overspends in:

• Adults Social Care (£6.3 million)
• Culture & Commercialisation (£1.0 million)
• Place (£1.5 million, including £1.1 million on Waste)
• Children, Young People & Families (£1.5 million, including £1.1 million on Childrens Social Care).

It was noted that a projected £1.5 million Neighbourhood Renewal Fund would be deferred to offset pressures in 2025/26, and that the pay award for 2025/26 had cost an additional £2.6 million, offset against council-wide budgets.

The report pack stated that meetings had been arranged for all Executive Directors to address the overspend, and that earmarked reserves had been reviewed with proposals for the release of £5.2 million to meet the projected overspend. Activities to reduce the in-year overspend were scheduled to progress, including a review of vacancies and potential spending restrictions.

In addition to the £5.2 million overspend, the Dedicated Schools Grant² position had deteriorated, with a £19.1 million in-year deficit projected.

The report included performance data relating to the council's 'Great 8 Priorities', including:

Tackling Climate Change

The council and St Leger Homes Doncaster were reported to be administering five domestic energy efficiency schemes. There was also a range of activity underway to help reduce costs to the council and schools through externally funded solar and battery works to five sites.

The report stated that tree planting 'season 5' would start in November, with activity planned on council-owned land and the wider public estate.

Building Opportunities for Healthier, Happier & Longer Lives for All

The Care Quality Commission had rated Doncaster's adult social care services as 'Good'. Doncaster had also been selected as a Wave One site for the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme, a major NHS England initiative aimed at transforming local health and care delivery.

Creating Safer, Stronger, Greener & Cleaner Communities Where Everyone Belongs

Delivery of the City Centre Locality Plan had accelerated, focusing on safety, environmental quality, and community engagement through the Safer City campaign. Work was ongoing to refresh the Community Safety Strategy for 2026–2029.

The City of Doncaster Council had been recognised by the Office for Veterans' Affairs as an exemplar authority for its commitment to the Armed Forces community.

Building Transport & Digital Connections Fit for the Future

Significant progress had been made toward reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Works had commenced to deliver improvements to public realm within Moorends.

Promoting the Borough & Its Cultural, Sporting & Heritage Opportunities

A varied programme of events had taken place in quarter 2, including Doncaster's Balloon Festival, Music in the Park (Cusworth Hall), Doncaster Pride, and the Doncaster St Leger Festival.

Fit for Purpose Council

The council's Customer Experience Strategy, Accessibility Workstream had been working on implementing the Sign Video App, which allows deaf customers to use a British Sign Language Interpreter Video Service when accessing council services.

The report also included data and commentary on workforce, financial position, housing revenue account, fees and charges, capital budget, collection fund, schools funding, dedicated schools grant, and reserves.

St Leger Homes of Doncaster Limited Key Performance Indicators

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee was scheduled to receive an update on the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs) for St Leger Homes of Doncaster Limited (SLHD) for Quarter 2 of 2025/26.

The report included 41 KPIs, including 22 Regulatory Tenant Satisfaction Measures. At the end of Quarter 2, 17 of the 28 KPIs being measured at quarter end were met or were within agreed tolerances of target.

KPIs with detailed commentary included:

• KPI 1: Percentage of Current Rent Arrears against Annual rent debit - BETTER THAN TARGET – GREEN
• KPI 2: Void rent loss (lettable voids) - WORSE THAN TARGET – RED
• KPI 3: Average Days to Re-let Standard Properties - WITHIN TOLERANCE – AMBER
• KPI 4: Average number of nights in hotel accommodation - WITHIN TOLERANCE – AMBER
• KPI 5: % of Settled Accommodation at Prevention Stage - BETTER THAN TARGET – GREEN
• KPI 6: Stage 1 and 2 Complaints relative to the size of the landlord (per 1,000 properties) - WORSE THAN TARGET
• KPI 7: Complaints responded to within target timescale - BETTER THAN TARGET
• KPI 8: Tenancy Turnover % - BETTER THAN TARGET – GREEN
• KPI 9: Percentage of repairs completed at first visit - BETTER THAN TARGET – GREEN
• KPI 10: Percentage of Emergency and Non-Emergency Repairs completed within target timescales - Emergency repairs - WITHIN TOLERANCE, Non-emergency repairs - WORSE THAN TARGET
• KPI 11: Gas Servicing - % of dwellings with a valid gas safety certificate - WORSE THAN TARGET – RED
• KPI 12: Fire - % homes for which all required fire risk assessments have been carried out - WITHIN TOLERANCE – AMBER
• KPI 16: Electrical - % Domestic properties with a satisfactory EICR up to five years old - WORSE THAN TARGET – RED
• KPI 17: Number of Days Lost to Sickness per Full Time Equivalent (FTE)
• KPI 18: % of Local Revenue Expenditure - WORSE THAN TARGET – RED
• KPI 19: Number of ASB cases per 1,000 properties, and KPI 19a: Number of ASB cases per 1,000 properties of which involve hate incidents - BETTER THAN TARGET – GREEN
• KPI 20: Number of Tenants or Residents Helped into Training, Education or Employment - BETTER THAN TARGET – GREEN
• KPI 22: Percentage of Homes Not meeting Decent Homes Standard % - WORSE THAN TARGET – RED

Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan and Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee was also scheduled to discuss its work plan for 2025/26 and the council's forward plan of key decisions.

The forward plan included key decisions expected to be taken between 1 January 2026 and 30 April 2026, including:

• To sign off 'Your Care and Support: Doncaster's Adult Social Care Local Account 2026'
• To sign off 'Doncaster's Carers' Journey 2026'
• To approve admission arrangements for the 2027/28 Year
• Approval of the Council Tax Base for 2026/27
• To accept grant funding to the values of £1,500,000 from the LUF 3 fund for Mexborough Market, Retail Units and MSCP Demolition Project.
• To agree to a managed 3 year programme of disposals to support the delivery of the Council's Capital Programme.
• Approval to procure a developer to deliver a regeneration scheme for Waterdale and Colonnades.
• Approval of the Borough Strategy (Doncaster Delivering Together) mid-point refresh
• To accept a new High Needs Capital grant of £4.1m, from the Department for Education.
• To approve the Capital Strategy & Capital Budget 2026/27 - 2029/30
• To approve the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2026/27 - 2029/30
• To approve the Revenue Budget 2026/27 - 2028/29.
• To approve the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2026/27 to 2029/30
• To approve the Council's Corporate Plan 2026/27.
• To approve the level of the Council Tax for 2026/27 and to pass appropriate statutory resolutions including the Council Tax requirement for 2026/27.
• Quarter 3 2025-26 Finance and Performance Report
• St Leger Homes Performance Report 2025/26 Quarter 3 (Non-Key Decision).

The Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan included possible issues for future consideration, including:

• Thrive Model updates
• Women's health and well being including Sexual Health Service
• Elective Home Education
• Local Plan Update
• Waste
• Shared Prosperity Fund
• Doncaster Culture and Leisure Trust.