'Chief executive has my full confidence': Mayor backs Doncaster Council boss amid legal threats with Reform UK

Mayor Ros Jones has insisted she still has full confidence in the City of Doncaster Council’s chief executive after it emerged he had issued legal threats to Reform UK councillors.

Councillors Craig Ward and Jason Charity, the leader and deputy leader of Reform UK Doncaster, received letters sent on behalf of Damian Allen, the council’s chief executive, in relation to a motion they announced they would file for public debate.

In a meeting on April 2, 2026, Coun Charity announced his party intended to file a motion to refer Mr Allen to the chief officers investigatory sub-committee (COISC).

The move contravened the local authority’s procedure for such a referral, with internal policy stating it is important the fairness of the process is not undermined by, for example, “putting motions to full council”.

However, it has thrust ongoing issues between senior opposition councillors and officials into the public domain.

According to the council website, the COISC is tasked “to consider any allegations made against the chief executive (head of paid service), monitoring officer or chief financial officer (Section 151 officer) and decide if further investigation is required”.

In his speech, Coun Charity did not publicly announce the exact context that had prompted the move and no evidence of wrongdoing has been presented by the party.

However, fallout is part of a developing crisis of trust within Doncaster Council.

During an interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Mayor Ros Jones, who has worked alongside the chief executive since his appointment, acknowledged the crisis could have serious consequences for residents and businesses.

However, she insisted Mr Allen still had her full confidence.

She said: “Officers are there to give professional advice. When you do not take it, you do that at your own peril because they’ve got no party political bias at all.

“It is wrong what [Reform] are doing and it’s them that are undertaking this.

“Of course I have confidence in the chief executive. He’s seeking to do the best for the whole of the economy of Doncaster.”

Council documents revealed in April 2026 that the council was now under “active monitoring” by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), in relation to “governance concerns” relating to council conduct.

The papers revealed Mr Allen contacted the Government for assistance in November 2025 and the MHCLG had been providing early engagement between officials and political leaders.

Coun Charity told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) the council was trying to “silence” him “through the courts” and claimed it showed the authority had “bigger problems than anything I have ever said about it”.

Doncaster Council declined to comment as it was a “personal matter”.

Mr Allen did not respond to request for comment from the LDRS.