The Council meeting scheduled for Thursday, 16 July 2026, was set to address a range of significant topics. The meeting's agenda included the consideration of motions on violence against women and girls, climate and biodiversity, and the support for farmers. Additionally, the agenda included the consideration of the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report and the appointment of an additional independent member to the Audit Committee.

Motion on Violence Against Women and Girls

A motion was scheduled for consideration, proposed by Councillor Nickie Brown and seconded by Councillor Chris Marriott. The motion aimed to reaffirm the Council's commitment to the safety, protection, and well-being of women and girls, a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of violence against women and girls, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking, harassment, and upskirting. It also proposed ensuring that council services, policies, and decisions actively consider the safety and well-being of women and girls, and to continue exploring opportunities to work with local partners, community organisations, and statutory agencies to strengthen prevention and support for victims and survivors. Furthermore, the motion called on the Government to ensure adequate funding and resources for frontline services tackling violence against women and girls, and to continue exercising due diligence in employment practices, including appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. The motion also included a commitment to robustly review any historic disclosures of employee misconduct where new information comes to light.

Motion on Climate and Biodiversity Emergency

Councillor Cynthia Ransome, seconded by Councillor Rachel Reed, put forward a motion to reconsider the designation of a climate and biodiversity emergency. The motion noted that the Council had declared a climate and biodiversity emergency on 19 September 2019 and subsequently adopted voluntary ambitions to reduce borough-wide carbon emissions by 85% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. However, the Council's own monitoring indicated that these targets were unlikely to be met at the current rate of emissions reduction. The motion argued that an emergency declaration is a political and policy statement and does not replace statutory environmental duties. It proposed rescinding the climate-emergency element of the declaration, confirming that this would not weaken the Council's statutory environmental responsibilities, and reaffirming commitment to protecting biodiversity, productive agricultural land, landscapes, air quality, communities, and flood resilience. The motion also required that any future voluntary city-wide emissions target exceeding national statutory requirements must be accompanied by a published assessment of cost, deliverability, economic consequences, and effects on Council services.

Motion on Support for Farmers and Productive Agricultural Land

A motion, proposed by Councillor Rachel Reed and seconded by Councillor Jane Cox, was scheduled for discussion, focusing on support for Doncaster's farmers and the protection of productive agricultural land. The motion highlighted Doncaster's agricultural heritage and the contributions of its farmland, farms, rural businesses, and communities. It noted the pressures faced by UK farmers and the national and local priority of food security, emphasizing that productive agricultural land is a finite resource. The motion proposed that housing and infrastructure needs should be met through a plan-led approach, prioritising sustainable locations and brownfield sites where appropriate, while protecting rural communities. It also advocated for council policy to support resilient local food systems, rural economies, and farming livelihoods, and for council procurement to support local and British producers. The motion resolved to publicly affirm support for Doncaster's farmers, farming families, rural businesses, and rural communities, and to encourage the effective use of brownfield land before productive agricultural land is considered for development. It also proposed writing to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to highlight pressures facing UK farmers.

Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2025/26

The Council was scheduled to receive and note the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for 2025/26. This report details the work undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee (OSMC) and its four Standing Panels: Regeneration and Housing, Community and Environment, Health and Adult Social Care, and Children and Young People. The report outlines the function's role in monitoring service quality, reviewing policy, considering public concerns, and providing a critical challenge to the Executive. It also identifies priorities for Overview and Scrutiny for the 2026/27 period.

Additional Independent Member of the Audit Committee

A report was presented seeking approval to increase the number of co-opted, non-voting, independent members on the Audit Committee from one to two. This proposed change aligns with best practice guidance, including recommendations from the independent Redmond Review of 2020, which suggests that audit committees should have at least two co-opted independent members to provide appropriate technical expertise. The appointment of these members is intended to enhance the robustness of challenge to the committee's work, thereby adding value to the Council's operations in managing risks and improving services.

Public Question and Member Questions

The agenda included a question from Mr Derek Brook to Mayor Ros Jones regarding ANPR car park systems at Wheatley Hall Retail Centre, questioning whether a borough-wide assessment had been conducted and the approach to enforcement. Additionally, Councillor Cynthia Ransome was scheduled to ask the Mayor a question regarding public access to the balcony for meetings and to issue a public apology for denied access to a previous Planning Committee meeting.

Other Items

The meeting was also scheduled to include the minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held on 22nd May 2026, announcements from the Chair of Council, the Mayor, Members of the Cabinet, or the Head of Paid Service, and questions from elected members without notice. The minutes of various Joint Authorities, including the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, South Yorkshire Pensions Authority, and South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel, were also to be received for information.