The Cabinet of Doncaster Council met on Wednesday, 11th February 2026, to discuss and approve several key financial and strategic documents for the upcoming years. Major decisions included the approval of the Corporate Plan for 2026/27, the Housing Revenue Account Strategy for 2026/27 to 2029/30, the Capital Strategy and Budget for 2026/27 to 2029/30, the Treasury Management Strategy for 2026/27 to 2029/30, and the Revenue Budget for 2026/27 to 2028/29. Additionally, the Cabinet approved the Discretionary Supporting Small Business Relief scheme for Business Rates 2026/27 and accepted a SEND Capital Grant of £4.1m.

Corporate Plan 2026/27

Cabinet approved the draft Corporate Plan for 2026/27, which outlines the Council's priorities and actions for the coming year, aligning with the longer-term City Borough Strategy, Doncaster Delivering Together (DDT). The plan details how the Council's work contributes to the DDT's Great 8 priorities and includes internally focused actions. It has undergone scrutiny from various Council teams and committees, including the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, before progressing to Full Council for final approval on 26th February 2026. The plan emphasizes collaboration across sectors and a focus on prevention and early intervention to address complex issues and improve the borough. Key initiatives are grouped into Big Collaborations such as Economic and Housing Growth, City Centre revitalisation, Renewing Doncaster's Neighbourhoods, and Learning and Culture.

Housing Revenue Account Strategy 2026/27 to 2029/30

Cabinet recommended to Council the approval of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget proposals for 2026/27 to 2029/30. This includes a 4.8% increase in housing rents from April 2026, resulting in an average weekly rent of approximately £95.93, which will remain the lowest in South Yorkshire. The proposals also set out a balanced HRA budget for 2026/27, maintaining a reserve of £3.5m, and detail fees and charges for the year. The rent increase aligns with government policy and ensures sufficient funding for maintaining social housing to the Doncaster decency standard, meeting building safety standards, and supporting an ambitious investment programme for new properties. The report also noted the late announcement of the government's rent convergence policy, which will be considered for the 2027/28 budget setting.

Capital Strategy & Capital Budget 2026/27 - 2029/30

Cabinet recommended to Council the approval of the Capital Strategy and the Capital Programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30. This programme outlines an estimated £549.3 million of capital investment over the four years, with £248.2 million planned for 2026/27. The investment aims to stimulate growth, improve infrastructure, and enhance core services such as education, housing, and leisure. Significant allocations include £216 million for the Council's social housing stock, £60.4 million for road maintenance, and substantial investment in the station gateway, Mexborough town centre, and Stainforth. The strategy emphasizes prioritizing essential health and safety works due to financial challenges, acknowledging that some risks related to the aging estate remain unfunded but are becoming more urgent. Directors, in consultation with portfolio holders, will be responsible for allocating block budgets to specific schemes.

Treasury Management Strategy 2026/27 - 2029/30

Cabinet recommended that Full Council approve the Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2026/27 to 2029/30, including the Prudential Indicators and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy. The strategy prioritizes the security and liquidity of investment funds, adopting a low-risk policy with relatively low returns to protect the Council from losses. The borrowing strategy will continue to focus on short-term borrowing for cash flow purposes while interest rates remain high, aiming to minimize the impact on the revenue budget. The Council is forecast to remain under-borrowed against its Capital Financing Requirement (CFR) of £850 million in 2026/27. The strategy also addresses Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations, proposing they be a fourth consideration after security, liquidity, and yield, and outlines credit risk policies and approved sources of borrowing.

Revenue Budget 2026/27 - 2028/29

Cabinet agreed to recommend to Council the approval of the Revenue Budget for 2026/27 to 2028/29. This includes a balanced budget over the period, aligning with the Corporate Plan and the Doncaster Delivering Together (DDT) strategy. The budget addresses significant service pressures, particularly in Adult's and Children's Social Care, amounting to £18.7 million in 2026/27, rising to £24.7 million by 2028/29. To meet these pressures and fund priorities, Council Tax will increase by 4.99% in 2026/27, comprising a 2.99% general increase and a 2% Adult Social Care precept. This will result in an annual Band D Council Tax of £1,801.15. The budget also includes £3.7 million in savings in 2026/27, rising to £6.8 million by 2028/29, and £3.6 million in targeted investments for town and city centre regeneration, enterprise support, and youth services. A contingency of £6.0 million is included for 2026/27 to manage financial risks. The Chief Financial Officer provided a positive assurance statement on the robustness of estimates and the adequacy of proposed financial reserves.

Discretionary Supporting Small Business Relief scheme for Business Rates 2026/27

Cabinet approved the proposed 2026 Supporting Small Business Relief scheme (2026 SSBR), which is expected to benefit approximately 1,128 local businesses with relief totalling £3.67 million. This scheme, funded by a Section 31 grant from the Government, will cap bill increases at £800 per year or the relevant caps within transitional relief, whichever is greater, for businesses losing eligibility for certain reliefs following the 2026 revaluation. The relief aims to support businesses facing significant increases in their business rates, thereby contributing to the local economy and making Doncaster a thriving place to work.

SEND Capital Grant

Cabinet agreed to accept a High Needs Capital grant of £4.1 million from the Department for Education and approved its addition to the relevant capital programme. This grant will be used to increase specialist provision for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) within Doncaster, aiming to reduce reliance on expensive out-of-area placements and improve local outcomes. The funding will support the expansion of existing specialist school capacity, the development of SEMH hubs, and new Post 16 provision. Delegated powers were approved for the Executive Director of Children, Young People and Families, in consultation with relevant officers and the Cabinet Member for Equalities, Education and Skills, to finalize a detailed spending plan for the allocation of this grant. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to ensure Doncaster children can be educated locally, promoting inclusivity and better life chances.

Decisions Made:

• Corporate Plan 2026/27: Approved for progression to Full Council.
• Housing Revenue Account Strategy 2026/27 to 2029/30: Recommended to Council for approval, including a 4.8% rent increase.
• Capital Strategy & Capital Budget 2026/27 - 2029/30: Recommended to Council for approval.
• Treasury Management Strategy 2026/27 - 2029/30: Recommended to Full Council for approval.
• Revenue Budget 2026/27 - 2028/29: Recommended to Council for approval, including a 4.99% Council Tax increase.
• Discretionary Supporting Small Business Relief scheme for Business Rates 2026/27: Approved.
• SEND Capital Grant: Accepted, and delegated powers approved for allocation and spending plan finalization.

Public Questions and Statements:

Councillor Nick Allen questioned the proposal to introduce a fee for the Pitch and Putt scheme at Cantley Park, expressing opposition to charging for this popular, free service. Mayor Ros Jones acknowledged the difficult financial decisions faced due to austerity and committed to reviewing the saving as part of the budget setting process, with any amendments to be incorporated into budget proposals for Council consideration.

Key Documents Referenced:

• Public reports pack 11th-Feb-2026 10.00 Cabinet.pdf
• Agenda frontsheet 11th-Feb-2026 10.00 Cabinet.pdf
• Printed minutes 11th-Feb-2026 10.00 Cabinet.pdf
• 110226 Cab i12 SEND Capital Grant 2026.pdf
• 110226 Cab i10 Rev Budget.pdf
• 110226 Cab i6 Corp PLan.pdf
• 110226 Cab i8 Cap Prog.pdf
• 110226 Cab i7 HRA.pdf
• 110226 Cab i9 Treasury Man.pdf
• 110226 Cab i11 Supporting Small Business Rate Relief 2026.pdf
• 110226 Cab i11 App A Supporting Small Business Rate Relief 2026.pdf