Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster

Population statistics

According to the 2011 census, the estimated population of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster is 302,400.

Verified population statistics per Ward from the 2001 census are shown as

Elected mayor

The conviction of 21 Labour councillors for fraud and the jailing of one councillor and a property developer, was a contributing factor behind the establishment of a directly elected mayor in 2001. The first mayor, Martin Winter, representing the Labour Party, was elected in 2002 and successfully defended his post in 2005.

In 2009 the English Democrat candidate, Peter Davies, won the election for mayor. In January 2013 Davies left the English Democrats citing "a big influx of new members (of the English Democrats) joining from the British National Party". In the May 2013 mayoral election he was defeated by Labour's Ros Jones.

Borough council

The council as a whole has been dominated by the Labour Party traditionally, but in the 2004 local elections, they lost overall control of the council (though they retained more councillors than any other single party). Labour regained overall control at the 2010 local elections.

2010 Audit Commission report and central government intervention

In January 2010 the Audit Commission initiated a corporate governance inspection of Doncaster Council. This followed the sudden resignation of the Chief Executive leading to a conflict between the mayor and council over the appointment of a successor. The Commission felt that this, along with evidence that the council had not been well run for 15 years, was leading to a loss of public confidence.

The Commission's report was issued in April 2010. It found that Doncaster was a dysfunctional authority and that there were three factors preventing the council from providing good governance:

The councillors' attempts to undermine the authority of the mayor and cabinet. There was evidence that councillors had never accepted the mayoral system and tried to use their overview and scrutiny powers to frustrate the mayor's policy objectives. In February 2010 the council had rejected the mayor's budget and voted in favour of their own proposals.

The lack of effective leadership shown by the mayor and cabinet. The mayor was described as "not averse to provocative and inflammatory statements" and it was felt that he "does not always act in a way which demonstrates the need for an elected mayor to lead his authority and represent all the people in Doncaster".

The failure of chief officers to deliver effectively services. Some senior officers were found to acquiesce in the councillors' misuse of scrutiny powers. There was also a lack of trust and impartiality.

On the recommendations of the commission, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, John Denham, used powers to appoint an acting chief executive and an advisory board to oversee the council. A Doncaster Recovery Board, comprising four appointed commissioners and seven other members including the mayor and chief executive held its first quarterly meeting on 10 September 2010.

Places

Settlements in the borough of Doncaster include:

Adwick-le-Street, Arksey, Armthorpe, Askern, Auckley, Austerfield Balby, Barnburgh, Barnby Dun, Bawtry, Belle Vue, Bentley, Bessacarr, Blaxton, Braithwaite, Braithwell, Branton, South Yorkshire, Brodsworth, Burghwallis Cadeby, Campsall, Cantley, Carcroft, Clayton, Clifton, Conisbrough, Cusworth Denaby, Dunscroft, Dunsville Edenthorpe, Edlington Fenwick, Finningley, Fishlake Hampole, Hatfield, Hatfield Woodhouse, Hayfield, Hexthorpe, Highfields, Hickleton, High Levels, High Melton, Hooton Pagnell Hyde Park Intake, Kirk Sandall Lindholme, Loversall, Larry's home Mexborough, Micklebring, Moorends, Moss New Rossington, Norton Rossington Scawsby, Scawthorpe, Skellow, Sprotbrough, Stainforth, Stainton, South Yorkshire, Sykehouse Thorne, Tickhill, Toll Bar, Town Moor Wadworth, Warmsworth, West Bessacarr, Wheatley, Wheatley Hills, Woodlands

Media

Radio stations that can be received in Doncaster are Sine FM 102.6 (serving central districts of around 100,000 households in FM stereo), TMCR 95.3 (which serves Northeast Doncaster and other areas in FM stereo), Trax FM, Capital Yorkshire, Hallam FM and BBC Radio Sheffield, although both Viking FM and BBC Radio Humberside overlap into this area. Although the above stations can be received within various areas of Doncaster, the only stations actually owned by Doncaster-based companies are Sine FM 102.6 and TMCR 95.3.