Doncaster Reform UK to propose 'alternative budget' including lower tax hike
Labour mayor Ros Jones wants to increase levels of council tax by 4.99% - a move Reform opposes
Reform UK’s “alternative budget” for the City of Doncaster Council will include a lower council tax rise than the one proposed by the Labour Mayor, the group’s leader has said.
Councillor Craig Ward, who was elected Reform UK group leader in January 2026, said his party was “looking to cut” the 4.99 per cent council tax hike proposed by Mayor Ros Jones.
“Pensioners are struggling, families are watching every penny and businesses in our town centres need support, not another blow,” Cllr Ward told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
He added: “Labour’s answer is always the same — put council tax up again. We don’t accept that.
“Reform UK is working on a budget that protects services while keeping council tax under control.
“After years of economic failure nationally, residents need relief, not another bill landing on the mat.”
Reform UK confirmed they had not yet been told by the council’s finance team that their budget was workable, but said: “The next step will be to work with the finance team once our budget has been signed off. Expert accountancy input has been provided and this is ongoing.”
Mayor Jones proposed a 4.99 per cent council tax increase in her budget proposals published on February 3, 2026.
Cllr Ward’s comments come a day after the Mayor’s Labour cabinet approved her budget proposals and sent them to full council for the final sign-off on February 26, 2026.
The Mayor’s budget includes a £248million capital spending plan for 2026/27, as well as full pay restoration for council staff – projected to have a gross cost of £8.1m.
Cllr Ward and Reform UK Doncaster did not provide specifics when asked how they would fund a lower than maximum council tax increase.
However, Cllr Ward said: “Any proposals in any Reform budget will always be carefully costed. This is no exception. We hope to be publishing our budget early next week.”
In response, Mayor Ros Jones called for Reform to be “open and honest” about the cuts it plans to make.
She said: “Doncaster has the lowest council tax in Yorkshire and one of the lowest across the country.
“Local Government has faced over 14 years of Conservative Austerity, where services have been cut to the bone and public buildings and roads starved of investment.
“My budget proposals set a balanced budget that address the budget pressures of £73m over the 3 years in areas including adults and children’s social care, whilst also delivering investment in our council housing, schools, roads and regeneration of town and city centres.
“Reform need to be open and honest about what they plan to cut, or what charges they plan to increase. 70% of council spend is in relation to Adults and Children’s services, whilst dealing with an aging population and increased demand.
“For Reform to announce an alternative budget before finding out if it could be workable and deliverable is completely unprofessional.”