The Cabinet meeting on 11 March 2026 focused on the council's financial and performance update for the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, alongside significant decisions regarding future funding for economic development and culture, and the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. A projected £5.2 million overspend was noted for the quarter, with measures to address this and the ongoing challenges in adult and children's social care being discussed.

Finance and Performance Improvement Report

The Cabinet received the Quarter 3 2025-26 Finance and Performance Improvement Report, which detailed the council's financial standing and service performance. Mayor Ros Jones highlighted that despite ongoing economic uncertainties, including inflation and rising debt-servicing costs, the council continued to deliver against its Corporate Plan. However, a projected £5.2 million overspend was noted for the quarter, consistent with the previous quarter. This overspend is attributed to various factors, including shortfalls against income targets and increased demand in key services such as Adults Social Care (£7.8m overspend due to increased care provision), Children, Young People & Families (£1.6m overspend, with £1.8m in Children's Social Care), and Place (£1.7m overspend, including £0.8m on Waste). These pressures are partially offset by one-off contingency budgets and the release of £1.5m from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund.

The report also highlighted a projected £18.0m deficit on the Dedicated Schools Grant (High Needs Block), though this showed an improvement of £1.1m compared to the quarter 2 forecast. To address the overall £5.2m overspend, proposals were made to release £5.2m from earmarked reserves. The Cabinet noted the virements and allocations of block budgets in the Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix A.

Local Growth Fund and Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Funding

Cabinet approved the acceptance and delivery of funding for the Local Growth Fund (LGF) and the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer programme for 2026/27. The LGF, a transitional replacement for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, will provide £3,789,256 to focus on Communities and Place, Supporting Local Business, and People and Skills. The Economic Inactivity Trailblazer programme will receive £1,705,225 to enhance local work, health, and skills support for economically inactive individuals. These funds aim to boost productivity, pay, jobs, and living standards, aligning with the Doncaster Delivering Together (DDT) strategy. Authority was delegated to relevant officers to agree funding terms, accept allocations, and approve detailed spending plans.

Refreshing Doncaster's Culture Strategy

Doncaster's Culture Strategy 2025-2035 was approved by Cabinet. This refreshed strategy, developed through extensive community engagement, prioritises Creative Health, Creative Economy, and Creative Learning and Skills. The strategy aims to embed creativity into health and social care, make Doncaster an attractive place for investment and tourism, and provide creative learning opportunities for all ages. The values underpinning the strategy are: Be creative communities together, Be creative for wellbeing, Be a maker of opportunities, and Be champions of creative futures. The strategy is designed to be inclusive, ambitious, and rooted in community experiences, with a focus on building trust, boosting wellbeing, and opening doors for everyone.

Local Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Cabinet approved the joint contract award for a South Yorkshire-wide public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure programme. This initiative, part of the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) programme, will see an £18m+ capital investment, including £8.9m in government grant and matched private investment, to deliver over 4,000 EV chargepoints across South Yorkshire, with approximately 1,000 planned for Doncaster. A single Chargepoint Operator (CPO) will be procured to fund, install, own, and maintain the network over a 15-year contract, with the authorities retaining control over site approvals and tariff fairness. This approach aims to ensure equitable distribution of charging points, particularly supporting residents without off-street parking, and avoids financial risks for the council.

St. Leger Homes of Doncaster (SLHD) Performance Update

Cabinet noted the performance update for St. Leger Homes of Doncaster (SLHD) for Quarter 3 of the 2025/26 financial year. The report indicated a generally positive performance, with 21 out of 30 measured KPIs meeting or being within agreed tolerances of their targets. Improvements were noted in areas such as void rent loss, average re-let times, and the percentage of settled accommodation at the prevention stage of homelessness. The Tenant Satisfaction Measures (TSMs) also showed positive results, with 11 out of 12 perception measures improving in 2024/25 compared to the previous year. However, areas for improvement were identified, including rent arrears, void rent loss, and the percentage of homes not meeting the Decent Homes Standard, particularly concerning chimneys and roofs. The report also highlighted strong performance in areas like emergency repairs, gas safety, fire safety, and tenant engagement in training and employment.