Politicians unite behind plans to put town in a positive light

Mr Davies, who as elected mayor has borne the brunt of a series of highly critical reports into the workings of Doncaster Council, hopes his new "borough strategy" will give residents and businesses reasons to be positive.

The 20-page document drawn up by the controversial English Democrat has also been backed by all of his political opponents, who claim they support the broad range of priorities laid out to improve the borough's prospects.

Earlier this year Doncaster Council was slammed by Audit Commission inspectors who were called in to carry out and root and branch review of the authority in the wake of a series of child protection scandals including the widely publicised Edlington attacks.

Inspectors found that the council and its staff had suffered from poor leadership and political infighting, and it is hoped the new consensus will lay those problems and the associated criticisms to rest.

At present the council is the subject of Government intervention, and its current chief executive Rob Vincent was appointed by Westminster. The new strategy aims to give the council a structure to work to once that intervention ends.

The 2010 strategy has dumped some of the priorities favoured by previous mayor Martin Winter and instead focuses mainly on the borough's economy, which Mr Davies believes is key to the town's wholesale rehabilitation.

He said yesterday: "I believe that this the document captures the 'big' challenges and opportunities for the borough and strikes the right balance between aspiration for the borough and what can be achieved – given economic realities.

"Doncaster has many great assets – including its people, its transport connections and its local attractions.

"It can be the gateway to opportunity locally, nationally and worldwide and I firmly believe that Doncaster can be one of the most successful boroughs in England."

According to the document the "key challenge" for Doncaster is to "develop a strong local economy, as this will have a positive impact on overall quality of life."

At present the borough's economic performance is assessed by the council as "significantly lagging behind the regional and national average" a problem which the document says send ripples through every aspect of life.

Conservative councillor Jonathan Wood, who was drafted in as business and regeneration spokesman by lone English Democrat Mr Davies following his election in 2009 said he was fully supportive of the strategy's aims.

He added: "I am thrilled that we have a document that for the first time reflects the importance of the economy in everything the council does.

"The revised strategy sends a message out to everyone that Doncaster is a positive brand open for business."

According to the strategy, during consultation 73 per cent of people questioned said they were proud to live or work in Doncaster and the council says that a "huge sense of civic pride remains in the town". It is hoped to boost this figure by encouraging more people to live, work and invest in Doncaster.

Coun Sandra Holland, leader of Doncaster's Labour group, said: "The strategy is a good example of co-operative working.

"We hope it will raise life chances and opportunities for local people, allowing our economy to grow."

Her comments were echoed by Liberal Democrat leader Coun Paul Coddington, who described the strategy as an "important document" and added: "We fully support it. The revised strategy sets out a clear vision for how we want the borough to develop over the coming years."