Doncaster Council projection to overspend by £5.2million in 2025/26 holds for Q3
The City of Doncaster Council is expected to overspend its 2025/26 budget by £5.2million, as the projected outturn at the end of the financial year holds in the third quarter.
According to reports going to Mayor Ros Jones’ cabinet next week, an equivalent amount is proposed to be released from the council’s earmarked reserves to meet the overspend and bring the books to a balanced position.
Adult Social Care services are projected to overspend by £7.8m, according to the reports, up from £6.3m projected after quarter two.
This is being driven by “increased care provided through Direct Payments, Supported Living and Homecare”, it is explained.
The Children, Young People and Families directorate are projected an overspend of £1.6m, driven by a £1.8m overspend in Children’s Social Care.
Place – the council directorate responsible for things like highways, waste, planning, trading standards and licensing – is also overspending by £1.7m, with £0.8 coming from waste services.
Underspends in other areas offset overspends to reach the council’s overall £5.2m projection.
The report stated: “A Council wide projected overspend of £5.2m is clearly a significant issue and needs to be addressed.
“Focused meetings took place to consider the budgetary pressures with all Executive Directors during November, which also focused on determining the potential ongoing impact for 2026/27 onwards, with the result incorporated in the 2026/27 budget report.”
The projected overspend to close the third quarter of the year is unchanged from quarter two, published in December 2025.
The Q2 overspend estimate was a 20 per cent reduction on that projected in Q1.
On February 26, 2026, Doncaster Council approved its budget plans for 2026/27. The approvals included a two per cent hike in council tax, a £248m capital spending plan for the year, and the first part of phased pay restoration for council staff.