The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee was scheduled to discuss the council's financial and performance reports, St Leger Homes of Doncaster's performance, and the committee's work plan for the coming year. The committee was also expected to review the council's forward plan of key decisions.

City of Doncaster Council 2024-25 Quarter 4 Finance and Performance Improvement Report

The committee was scheduled to review the City of Doncaster Council 2024-25 Quarter 4 Finance and Performance Improvement Report. The report noted that the economic context was improving but remained uncertain, with inflation above the UK target. Key transformational priorities included stimulating economic growth and developing a model of working with people in the community.

The report stated that the year-end position was balanced, with a net overspend of £1.1m being funded from earmarked reserves. Key variances included:

• Adults social care: £7.6m overspend due to a larger number of older people being supported in care homes and increased care provided to supported living clients.
• Homelessness: £1.1m overspend due to additional housing benefits costs resulting from providing temporary accomodation.
• One-off underspends: £7.2m against contingency budgets.

The report also highlighted additional one-off funding requirements since the approval of the 2025/26 budget, including funding for Doncaster Culture & Leisure Trust (DCLT) to meet the loss of income due to closures, or partial closures, to facilitate capital works and unexpected additional site maintenance costs, and funding associated with a Local Plan review.

The report also included updates on the council's 'Great 8 Priorities':

• Tackling Climate Change: 555 homes have been energy retrofitted throughout the year, focusing on the most vulnerable tenants and residents.
• Developing the Skills to Thrive in Life and Work: 96.4% of children at Primary School age and 84% of Secondary School age successfully gained their first-choice school placement.
• Making Doncaster the Best Place to do Business & Create Good Jobs: Quarter 4 saw considerable investment captured which included Bawtry Park, the new premium leisure development at Austerfield, and Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospital Trust as part of their redevelopment work at Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
• Building Opportunities for Healthier, Happier & Longer Lives for All: Assessments of people in receipt of social care remains stable.
• Creating Safer, Stronger, Greener & Cleaner Communities Where Everyone Belongs: 385 new affordable homes built during 2024/25.
• Nurturing a Child & Family-Friendly Borough: 89% of the completed FAMILY stars evidenced an increased confidence and improved ability of parents/carers to support and provide for their family.
• Building Transport & Digital Connections Fit for the Future: Construction on Gateway One, the Council's new flagship Digital Tech Hub, commence.
• Promoting the Borough & Its Cultural, Sporting & Heritage Opportunities: Mexborough Library has re-opened after a significant investment programme.

The report also provided updates on the performance of Market Asset Management (MAM) Doncaster Ltd, with occupancy levels at Doncaster Market increasing to 87%.

St Leger Homes of Doncaster Limited (SLHD) Performance and Delivery Update Quarter 4 2024-25

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the performance and delivery of St Leger Homes of Doncaster Limited (SLHD) for Quarter 4 of 2024-25. The report included key performance indicators (KPIs) and tenant satisfaction measures (TSMs).

Of the 41 KPIs, 17 were met or within agreed tolerances of the target. The twelve Tenant Perception Survey TSMs for 2024/25 were completed over a five-month period to end of September 2024 and eleven of the twelve showed improvements on 2023/24 survey results.

The report included detailed commentary on each KPI, including:

• Current Rent Arrears: Better than target, with year-end arrears at 2.76%.
• Void Rent Loss: Worse than target, with a void rent loss of 0.96%.
• Average Days to Re-let Standard Properties: Worse than target, with an average of 27.4 days.
• Average Number of Nights in Hotel Accommodation: Worse than target, with an average of 28.0 nights.
• Percentage of Settled Accommodation at Prevention Stage: Better than target, with 43.0% of cases settled at the prevention stage.
• Complaints: Worse than target, with 75.6 complaints per 1,000 properties.
• Complaints Responded to Within Target Timescale: Better than target, with 99.1% of complaints responded to within the target timescale.
• Percentage of Tenancies Sustained Post Support: Better than target, with 99.0% of tenancies sustained.
• Percentage of Repairs Completed at First Visit: Better than target, with 95.3% of repairs completed at first visit.
• Percentage of Emergency and Non-Emergency Repairs Completed Within Target Timescales: Worse than target, with 73.1% of repairs completed within target timescales.
• Gas Servicing: Meeting target, with 100.00% of dwellings having a valid gas safety certificate.
• Fire Risk Assessments: Meeting target, with 100.00% of homes having all required fire risk assessments carried out.
• Asbestos Surveys: Meeting target, with 100.00% of homes having all required asbestos management surveys or reinspections carried out.
• Legionella Risk Assessments: Meeting target, with 100.00% of homes having all required risk assessments carried out.
• Lifts Safety Checks: Meeting target, with 100.00% of homes having all required communal passenger lift safety checks carried out.
• Electrical Safety Certificates: Worse than target, with 96.0% of properties having valid electrical safety certificates.
• Days Lost to Sickness: Worse than target, with 12.2 days lost to sickness per full-time equivalent.
• Local Revenue Expenditure: Worse than target, with 59% of local revenue expenditure.
• ASB Cases: Better than target, with 55.1 ASB cases per 1,000 properties.
• Hate Incidents: Better than target, with 0.8 hate incidents per 1,000 properties.
• Residents Helped into Training, Education or Employment: Better than target, with 113 residents helped into training, education or employment.
• Tenant Satisfaction with Overall Service: Better than target, with 81.0% tenant satisfaction.
• Homes Meeting Decent Homes Standard: Worse than target, with 5.53% of homes not meeting the decent homes standard.
• Tenant Satisfaction with Property Condition: Better than target, with 81.5% tenant satisfaction.
• Energy Efficiency of Properties: Worse than target, with 57.1% of properties meeting EPC level 3.

Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan 2025-26 and Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions

The committee was scheduled to approve the Overview and Scrutiny Work Plan 2025/26. The work plan identifies key areas for review and scrutiny, including policy development, performance monitoring, and issues of wider public concern.

The committee was also scheduled to consider the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1st July to 31st October 2025. Key decisions are those that are likely to result in significant expenditure or savings, or have a significant impact on communities.

The committee was also scheduled to note the terms of reference of and appointment to the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire).

The membership of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee is as follows:

• Barnsley MBC
• Rotherham MBC
• Doncaster MBC (represented by Councillor Dave Knight)
• Derbyshire County Council
• Nottinghamshire County Council
• Sheffield City Council

The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee covers NHS England and the following 3 NHS Integrated Care Boards (ICBs):

• South Yorkshire ICB
• Derby and Derbyshire ICB
• Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB