Mayor Jones accused of 'dodging' questions on Doncaster Council intervention during building sale

The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, is “dodging” questions relating to the local authority’s involvement in the ongoing dispute over the Doncaster Business Innovation Centre (DBIC), a senior Conservative has said.

Councillor Jane Cox blasted the Mayor’s decision not to answer her “very simple question” on the filing of a property search on the DBIC due to “threatened court proceedings”.

The sale of the DBIC, owned by the council-owned company Arthur Street (Doncaster) Developments Ltd has yet to be completed, after DBIC Trading Ltd purchased the property at a 2024 auction. However, controversy surrounds a decision by Doncaster Council to file a Land Registry property search, known as an OS1, on the DBIC following the auction sale.

Lodging the OS1 seemingly frustrated DBIC Trading Ltd’s purchase of the property and the decision has drawn considerable scrutiny in the council chamber.

A spokesperson for the City of Doncaster Council has previously said: “Arthur Street (Doncaster) Developments Ltd, a wholly owned company of the Council took DBIC to auction on Tuesday 18th June 2024 and subsequently has been engaging with the buyer to complete the sale.

“It is still the intention to sell this property and as such these discussions are commercial and ongoing. The council has acknowledged that there are lessons to be learnt from this matter.”

Most recently, Councillor Jane Cox, a Conservative representative for Finningley ward, quizzed the Mayor in a council meeting on July 16, 2026.

Addressing Mayor Jones, Coun Cox said: “The council continues to refuse to explain why [it] lodged an OS1 priority search on the property… will you now tell this council who authorised that application and when you first became aware of it?”

In response, Mayor Jones told Coun Cox she would be better off directing her question to the board of directors at ASDD and didn’t provide any of the details requested.

Coun Cox said in the chamber: “That does not answer my question. I’m not asking about the contractual dispute between Arthur Street and the purchaser. I’m asking about an application made by the City of Doncaster Council itself.

“Can you explain why you consider a question about a council decision in council cannot be answered?”

Mayor Jones did not respond in the chamber, but subsequently provided a written response which read: “I understand the dispute between Arthur Street Developments and a third party is the subject of threatened court proceedings, it is therefore inappropriate to make any public comment or statement on the matter or respond to your question.”

Unhappy with the written answer, Coun Cox said: “I’m just asking a very simple question. Who authorised the lodging of the OS1? Someone has given the order.

“I don’t want to know about any legal disputes. I don’t care who’s buying it. What is the reason that they won’t answer the question?

“She is dodging the question and the answer is why.”

Coun Nick Allen, the former Tory deputy group leader, said he too had hit a “brick wall” when making enquiries on the matter.

He said: “The lack of dialogue is one thing but the unwillingness by some to engage in substantive communication is not going to help resolve these matters.

“Ultimately, no one benefits from a situation like this and we must not go on with this prolonged and costly legalese. It reminds me of something you would expect to read about in Bleak House.”

The Mayor of Doncaster has not responded to requests for comment.