The Communities and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel of Doncaster Council was scheduled to discuss the Doncaster Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026-2030 and the Council's Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan and Forward Plan of Key Decisions. The meeting's agenda also included a review of the minutes from the previous meeting.

Doncaster Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026-2030

The panel was scheduled to consider the proposed Doncaster Domestic Abuse Strategy for 2026-2030. This strategy, developed in collaboration with partner agencies, community groups, residents, and survivors of abuse, aims to provide a vision and clear goals for preventing and responding to domestic abuse across Doncaster. The strategy is a statutory requirement following the introduction of the Domestic Abuse Act in April 2021.

The strategy is built on the foundations of the previous 2021-2026 strategy and focuses on four key priorities:

• Prevent domestic abuse: This includes educating children, young people, communities, and professionals about healthy relationships and available support, as well as preventing the escalation of abuse through training and clear referral pathways.
• Support and keep victims, survivors, and families safe: This involves ensuring a coordinated community response for early identification and intervention, increasing awareness of support services, building a skilled and trauma-informed workforce, and providing long-term support for survivors to move from surviving to thriving. A specific focus is placed on children and young people, aiming to prevent and tackle adolescent to parent abuse and support vulnerable children.
• Hold abusers to account: This priority includes investing in research and initiatives to understand and change abusive attitudes and behaviour, and utilising criminal and civil justice system measures.
• Leadership, governance, and quality assurance: This ensures a coordinated community and whole family response, with clear objectives and a performance management framework.

The strategy has been developed through extensive consultation, including workshops, surveys, and targeted conversations with survivors, residents, elected members, practitioners, and community leaders. It aims to be inclusive and relevant to all residents of Doncaster, acknowledging intersectionality and providing targeted resources for the most vulnerable. The strategy is intended to complement existing safeguarding and crime prevention priorities without duplicating efforts.

The report highlighted that the production and implementation of this strategy is a statutory requirement. Financial, human resources, technology, and health implications were also considered, with the strategy aiming to positively impact the council's Developing the skills to thrive in life and in work and Fair & Inclusive key outcomes.

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

The panel was also scheduled to review the Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan for 2025/26 and the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period of 1st April to 31st July 2026. The work plan outlines the planned scrutiny activities across various committees, including Health and Adult Social Care, Children and Young People, Regeneration and Housing, and Community and Environment. The Forward Plan details key executive decisions expected to be taken by the Cabinet, the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Portfolio Holders, or Officers within the next four months. These decisions are categorised as Key Decisions if they are likely to result in significant expenditure or savings, have a substantial impact on communities across two or more wards, or relate to the approval or variation of the Policy and Budget Framework.

The Forward Plan indicated several key decisions scheduled for April 2026, including the approval of the Doncaster Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026-2030, a proposal to continue partnership as a key member of the South Yorkshire Tobacco Alliance, and an update report on the progress of reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport.