City of Doncaster
The City of Doncaster is a metropolitan borough with city status in South Yorkshire, England.[2][3][4] It is named after its principal settlement, Doncaster, and includes the surrounding suburbs of Doncaster as well as numerous towns and villages. The district has large amounts of countryside; at 219 square miles (570 km2), it is the largest metropolitan borough in England by area.
City of Doncaster | |
|---|---|
Doncaster, known for its minster and racecourse is the largest settlement and administrative centre of the borough. | |
Doncaster shown within South Yorkshire | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Constituent country | England |
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Ceremonial county | South Yorkshire |
| Admin. HQ | Civic Office, Waterdale |
| Government | |
| • Type | City and metropolitan district council |
| • Body | City of Doncaster Council |
| • Leadership: | Mayor and cabinet |
| • Mayor | Ros Jones (L) |
| • MPs: | Nick Fletcher (C), Ed Miliband (L), Rosie Winterton (L) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 219.3 sq mi (568.0 km2) |
| • Rank | 80th |
| Population (2021) | |
| • Total | 308,106 |
| • Rank | Ranked 41st |
| • Density | 1,400/sq mi (540/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (British Summer Time) |
| Area code(s) | 01302, 01405, 01709, 01977 |
| ONS code | 00CE (ONS) E08000017 (GSS) |
| Ethnicity | 96.2% White 1.6% South Asian[1] |
| Website | doncaster.gov.uk |
The largest settlement in the borough are Doncaster itself, followed by the towns of Thorne, Hatfield and Mexborough (the latter of which is part of the Barnsley/Dearne Valley built-up area), and it additionally covers the towns of Conisbrough, Stainforth, Bawtry, Askern, Edlington and Tickhill.
Doncaster borders the Selby district of North Yorkshire to the north, the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north-east, North Lincolnshire to the east, Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire to the south-east, Rotherham to the south-west, Barnsley to the west, and Wakefield, West Yorkshire, to the north-west. It is part of the Yorkshire and the Humber region.
The borough was created on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of the former County Borough of Doncaster, the urban districts of Adwick-le-Street, Bentley with Arksey, Conisbrough, Mexborough, and Tickhill, Doncaster and Thorne rural districts, and the parish of Finningley from East Retford Rural District and small parts of the parish of Harworth from Worksop Rural District from Nottinghamshire.
Population statistics
According to the 2011 census, the population of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster is 302,400.
With approximately 110,000 inhabitants, the town of Doncaster itself contains around a third of the population of the entire borough. Around half of the borough's population reside within Doncaster's urban area (approximately 160,000).
Verified population statistics per Ward from the 2001 census are shown as
| Ward | Population | Households |
|---|---|---|
| Adwick | 16,142 | 6,220 |
| Armthorpe | 16,977 | 6,495 |
| Askern | 11,414 | 4,293 |
| Balby | 14,336 | 5,514 |
| Bentley Central | 12,168 | 4,665 |
| Bentley North Road | 11,606 | 4,728 |
| Bessacarr | 13,652 | 5,425 |
| Central | 11,481 | 5,144 |
| Conisbrough | 14,894 | 5,837 |
| Edlington & Warmsworth | 12,291 | 4,641 |
| Hatfield | 15,048 | 5,630 |
| Intake | 10,994 | 4,417 |
| Mexborough | 15,282 | 6,281 |
| Richmond | 13,471 | 5,308 |
| Rossington | 12,647 | 4,705 |
| South East | 16,880 | 6,247 |
| Southern Parks | 14,439 | 5,520 |
| Stainforth | 15,447 | 5,825 |
| Thorne | 17,057 | 6,380 |
| Town Field | 11,131 | 4,587 |
| Wheatley | 11,497 | 4,877 |
| Doncaster Total | 288,854 | 112,739 |
Elected mayor
A referendum was held in 2001, to decide if a directly elected mayor should be appointed. 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.[5][6] 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".[7] 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.[8]
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.[9]
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:[10]
- 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.[9] 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.[11]
Places
Settlements in the Borough of Doncaster include:
- Adwick-le-Street, Almholme, Arksey, Armthorpe, Askern, Auckley, Austerfield
- Balby, Barnburgh, Barnby Dun, Bawtry, Belle Vue, Bentley, Bessacarr, Blaxton, Braithwaite, Braithwell, Branton, Brodsworth, Burghwallis
- Cadeby, Campsall, Cantley, Carcroft, Clayton, Clifton, Conisbrough, Cusworth
- Denaby, Doncaster, Dunscroft, Dunsville
- Edenthorpe, Edlington
- Fenwick, Finningley, Fishlake
- Hampole, Harlington, Hatfield, Hatfield Woodhouse, Hayfield, Haywood, Hexthorpe, Highfields, Hickleton, High Levels, High Melton, Hooton Pagnell, Hyde Park
- Intake
- Kirk Sandall, Kirk Bramwith
- Lakeside, Lindholme, Loversall
- Marr, Mexborough, Micklebring, Moorends, Moss
- New Rossington, Norton
- Owston
- Rossington
- Scawsby, Scawthorpe, Shaftholme, Skelbrooke, Skellow, Sprotbrough, Stainforth, Stainton, South Yorkshire, Sykehouse
- Thorne, Thorpe in Balne, Tickhill, Tilts, 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), TX1 Radio (covering Doncaster and Bassetlaw), Capital Yorkshire, Heart Yorkshire, Greatest Hits Radio Yorkshire, Hallam FM and BBC Radio Sheffield, although numerous stations from Sheffield, Leeds, Hull, York, Lincoln and other cities can be received. 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.
The borough is also the base of Nova Productions who produce the syndicated TV series Walks Around Britain.
Freedom of the Borough
The following people and military units have received the Freedom of the Borough of Doncaster.
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (June 2019) |
Individuals
- 8 July 1751: Viscount Downe, British Politician.
- 8 July 1751: Lord Rockingham, British Prime Minister.
- 8 July 1751: Lord Granby, British Army Officer.
- 23 September 1806: Prince of Wales.
- 23 September 1806: Duke of Clarence.
- 17 September 1822: Duke of Sussex
- 15 September 1829: FM Duke of Wellington, British Army Officer and Later Prime Minister.[12]
- 14 August 2017: Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, British Paratrooper wounded in Afghanistan.[13][14]
- 25 February 2019: Tony Sockett, Former Mayor of Doncaster.[15][16]
- 22 March 2019: Yvonne Woodcock, Mayor of Doncaster 1998-1999.[17][18]
- 22 March 2022: James Coppinger, Footballer for Doncaster Rovers 2004-2021.[19][20][21]
Military Units
- The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry: 1945.
- RAF Finningley: 1975.
- The Rifles: 8 September 2007.[22]
- The Coldstream Guards: 15 July 2021.[23][24]
References
- ^ "Resident Population Estimates by Ethnic Group (Percentages); Mid-2005 Population Estimates". National Statistics Online. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 28 March 2008.
- ^ "Doncaster: Residents choose newest city's new name". BBC News. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- ^ "Doncaster City Status Naming". Visit Doncaster. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- ^ "What should Doncaster be called now it has gained city status?". ITV News. 24 August 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- ^ English Democrat wins mayor vote BBC News 5 June 2009
- ^ Mayoral results 2009 11 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine www.doncaster.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 June 2009
- ^ "Doncaster mayor quits English Democrats 'because of BNP'". 5 February 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
- ^ "Doncaster council". Election 2010. BBC News. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
- ^ a b Patrick Butler (19 April 2010). "Ministers take over 'dysfunctional' Doncaster council". The Guardian.
- ^ "Corporate Governance Inspection: Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council" (PDF). Audit Commission. April 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ . Doncaster Recovery Board. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
- ^ "Freedom of Doncaster". 7 June 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ "Hometown honours injured soldier". BBC News. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ "Ben Parkinson to receive the Freedom of the Borough | Business Doncaster". wearedoncaster.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ "Tony Sockett receives Freedom of the Borough". www.doncaster-chamber.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ "Doncaster resident receives 'Freedom of the Borough' Award". Doncaster Echo. 3 April 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ "The Queen's Birthday Honours List". Doncaster Council. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ "Yvonne can 'take her sheep down the High Street'". The Doncaster Free Press. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "Coppinger to be presented with Freedom of the Borough on May 21". www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
- ^ Goodwin, Paul (22 March 2022). "Doncaster Rovers legend James Coppinger receives Freedom of the Borough". The Doncaster Free Press. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "James Coppinger presented with Freedom of the Borough". Doncaster Borough Council. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "TOP BRASS: Lieutenant General Nick Parker receives(sic) the Freedom of the Borough scrolls from Chair of Council Tony Sockett and Mayor Winter, and right, veterans from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and Light Infantry. Pictures: MARIE CALEY D8661".
- ^ Torr, George (11 July 2021). "Yorkshire town to bestow 'Freedom of Entry' to prestigious Coldstream Guards". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ "Doncaster Freedom of Entry presented to the Coldstream Guards". Doncaster Borough Council. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
External links
- Doncaster College
- Doncaster Belles L.F.C. homepage
- Doncaster Sheffield Airport
- Doncaster Lakeside