The Cabinet of Doncaster Council met on Wednesday 15 April 2026 to discuss strategies for tackling domestic abuse, community safety, and tobacco control. The meeting's agenda included the proposed adoption of the Doncaster Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026-2030, the Community Safety Strategy 2026-2029, and a three-year partnership agreement for the South Yorkshire Tobacco Control Alliance.

Doncaster Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026-2030

A key item scheduled for discussion was the Doncaster Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026-2030. This strategy, developed in collaboration with partner agencies, domestic abuse providers, community groups, residents, and survivors, aims to provide a clear vision and set of goals to prevent and respond to domestic abuse across Doncaster. The report highlighted that the strategy is a statutory requirement following the introduction of the Domestic Abuse Act in April 2021. It is built upon the previous strategy and has been shaped by extensive consultation, including workshops, surveys, and targeted conversations. The strategy focuses on four priorities: preventing domestic abuse, supporting and keeping victims and families safe, holding abusers to account, and ensuring effective leadership, governance, and quality assurance. The report recommended that Cabinet approve the strategy for publication.

The strategy outlines a coordinated community and whole-family response to domestic abuse, emphasising that it is a shared responsibility. It aims to reduce incidents of domestic abuse, support victims and survivors, and hold abusers accountable. The report noted that the strategy was developed using a comprehensive needs assessment and extensive consultation, and it will be accompanied by a performance management framework, a quality assurance framework, and a multi-agency action plan. The strategy also addresses the impact of domestic abuse on the council's key outcomes, including developing skills for life and work, making Doncaster a better place to do business, promoting the borough, and fostering a fair and inclusive environment.

Community Safety Strategy 2026-2029

The meeting was also scheduled to consider the Community Safety Strategy 2026-2029. This statutory plan, produced and owned by the multi-agency Safer Stronger Doncaster Partnership (SSDP), outlines how the partnership will tackle crime and disorder, reduce re-offending, address anti-social behaviour (ASB), and combat alcohol and substance misuse. The strategy has been developed following extensive consultation with residents, communities, businesses, and partners.

The strategy identifies six key priorities: reducing anti-social behaviour, tackling substance and alcohol misuse, reducing crime and re-offending, tackling serious and organised crime, reducing violence and violent crime, and tackling domestic and sexual abuse. It emphasises a community-centred approach, with a focus on prevention, early intervention, and partnership working. The report detailed achievements from the previous strategy, including a reduction in overall crime, most serious violence, and residential burglary. For the upcoming period, the strategy outlines planned actions for each priority, such as strengthening early intervention for ASB, expanding treatment services for substance misuse, enhancing offender management, disrupting organised crime, adopting a public health approach to violence, and strengthening the response to domestic and sexual abuse. The report recommended that Cabinet endorse the strategy and recommend it for approval by Full Council.

South Yorkshire Tobacco Control Alliance - 3-Year Partnership

A proposal for the City of Doncaster Council to continue its partnership as a key member of the South Yorkshire Tobacco Control Alliance was also scheduled for discussion. This would involve committing to a three-year funding agreement using ring-fenced funding from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) for 'Smokefree Generation' initiatives. The report highlighted that smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and illness in the UK, with Doncaster having a higher smoking prevalence (14%) than the England average (10.9%).

The South Yorkshire Tobacco Control Alliance aims to collectively accelerate efforts to eliminate smoking across the region and contribute to the government's 'Smokefree Generation' ambition. The partnership model supports coordinated action, reduces duplication, and achieves economies of scale. Benefits for Doncaster residents include improved health outcomes, reduced health and social care costs, economic benefits through increased productivity, a cleaner environment, and a reduction in health inequalities, as smoking rates are higher in more deprived communities. The report recommended approving the council's continued participation and commitment to a three-year funding agreement. The alliance's work includes public campaigns, advocacy on tobacco legislation, and targeted interventions to improve quit outcomes. Doncaster's contribution to the alliance is approximately 10.29% of its overall smoking cessation grant allocation.