The Doncaster Council was scheduled to meet on 10 July 2025. The agenda included questions from the public to Mayor Ros Jones, a motion regarding the flying of the Union Flag on council property, and the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2024/2025. Councillors were also expected to receive minutes from various joint authorities, including the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA).

Motion on Flying the Union Flag

Councillor Jason Charity, seconded by Councillor Karl Hughes, proposed a motion to revise the corporate flag protocol. The motion stated that the council should only fly the Union Flag on council property, with exceptions only for the Royal Standard when the King is present and the national flag of a visiting head of state. The motion argued that displaying other flags undermines the council's impartiality and risks politicising civic spaces.

Council property belongs to all residents and should reflect our shared national identity, not particular causes, campaigns, or interest groups.

The motion requested that Mayor Ros Jones consider adopting the revised protocol and that the Chief Executive provide a report on the implementation progress at the September 2025 council meeting.

Questions from the Public

Members of the public were scheduled to ask questions of Mayor Ros Jones.

• Mr Daniel Pye asked about installing a zebra crossing on Jossey Lane near Castle Hills Primary School, arguing that a child's life is priceless and that the council should make this a priority. He noted that he and Ed Miliband MP had previously requested the crossing but were told it was not cost-effective based on accident statistics.
• Mr Paul Bissett raised concerns about two large developments in Edenthorpe where most houses are being bought by private investment, disadvantaging locals and inflating rental prices. He asked why St Leger Homes could not buy these properties to rent at social housing prices.
• Mr Steve Merriman questioned whether the council had identified further unused earmarked reserves beyond the £2.7 million used to cover a budget overspend in 2024/25, from within the £87.5 million of earmarked reserves declared in the 2024/25 council accounts.
• Mr Isaiah-John Reasbeck asked what measures would be implemented to prevent incidents like the one he witnessed in Dunsville, where an elderly man was knocked over by thugs on a motorbike.
• Mr Christopher Nowak asked why five retail units in Doncaster's Corn Exchange were still empty after a two-year refurbishment, despite incentives being offered to attract traders by MAM Ltd and Business Doncaster.
• Mrs Sarah Barnes asked about plans to restore staff pay, noting that Doncaster Council staff are paid less than their equivalents in Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham, which affects recruitment, retention, and morale. She mentioned that the GMB union is campaigning for pay restoration in Doncaster Council.

Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2024/2025

The council was scheduled to receive and note the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2024/2025. The report highlights the work of the council's Overview and Scrutiny function from 1 May 2024 to 31 March 2025.

The report summarises the activities of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee (OSMC) and its four standing panels:

• Regeneration and Housing Panel
• Community and Environment Panel
• Health and Adult Social Care Panel
• Children and Young People Panel

The report also identifies priorities for Overview and Scrutiny for 2025/26. According to the report, Overview and Scrutiny provides an important role for non-executive councillors to provide checks and balances within the decision-making process. It enables them to:

• Monitor the quality of service delivery
• Review policy and contribute to its development
• Consider issues of wider public concern
• Provide a critical friend and challenge role

The report includes examples of how scrutiny has added value to decision-making and supported good governance. It also lists the public and partners who have taken part in scrutiny meetings. The report details how Overview and Scrutiny has engaged with the public through site visits and scrutiny meetings held in the council chamber.

The report concludes by outlining the Overview and Scrutiny priorities for 2025/26.

Joint Authorities' Minutes

The council was scheduled to receive the minutes of the following joint authorities:

• South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board meetings held on 11 February and 18 March 2025.
• South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority meetings held on 17 February and 28 April 2025.
• South Yorkshire Pensions Authority meetings held on 13 February and 13 March 2025.
• South Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel meetings held on 3 February, 17 March, 28 April and 15 May 2025.
• Team Doncaster Executive meetings held on 10 December 2024 and 11 March 2025.