{{Short description|Local government body in England}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Use British English|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox legislature | name = Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council | coa_pic = | coa_res = 120 | coa_alt = Arms of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council | logo_pic = Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council logo.svg | logo_res = 250 | logo_alt = | house_type = Metropolitan borough council | foundation = 1 April 1974 | preceded_by = | leader1_type = [[Mayors in England|Mayor]] | leader1 = Liam Hardcastle | party1 = <br />[[Reform UK]] | election1 = 29 May 2026<ref name="2026_agm">{{cite news |last1=Ashton |first1=Lucy |title=New civic mayor and council leader installed at Barnsley Council |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpqp8y25ry5o |work=BBC News |date=29 May 2026}}</ref> | leader2_type = [[Leader of the council|Leader]] | leader2 = William Brown | party2 = <br />[[Reform UK]] | election2 = 29 May 2026<ref name="2026_agm" /> | leader3_type = [[Chief Executive]] | leader3 = Sarah Norman | party3 = <!-- Non-political role --> | election3 = July 2019<ref>{{cite news |last1=Calkin |first1=Sarah |title=Interview: Sarah Norman on the lure of Barnsley |url=https://www.lgcplus.com/politics/workforce/interview-sarah-norman-lure-barnsley-10-09-2019/ |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=Local Government Chronicle |date=10 September 2019}}</ref> | seats = 63 councillors<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://opencouncildata.co.uk/council.php?c=264&y=0|title = Open Council Data UK - compositions councillors parties wards elections}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://barnsleymbc.moderngov.co.uk/mgMemberIndex.aspx?bcr=1|title= Councillors - Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council}}</ref> | structure1 = Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council 9 May 2026.svg | structure1_res = 280 | structure1_alt = Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council composition | political_groups1 = ;Administration (42) :{{Color box|{{party color|Reform UK}}|border=darkgray}} [[Reform UK]] (42) ;Other parties (21) :{{Color box|{{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] (11) :{{nowrap|{{Color box|{{party color|Liberal Democrats (UK, 2025)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] (8)}} :{{Color box|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}|border=darkgray}} [[Independent (politician)|Independents]] (2) | term_length = 4 years | committees1 = | joint_committees = [[South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority]] | voting_system1 = [[Plurality-at-large voting|Plurality-at-large]] | last_election1 = [[2026 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council election|7 May 2026]] | next_election1 = 2030 | session_room = BarnsleyTownHallVertical.jpg | session_res = 220 | session_alt = Town Hall at Barnsley | meeting_place = [[Barnsley Town Hall|Town Hall]], Church Street, Barnsley, S70{{nbsp}}2TA | website = {{URL|www.barnsley.gov.uk}} | footnotes = }}

'''Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council''' is the [[Local government in England|local authority]] of the [[Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley]] in [[South Yorkshire]], England. It is a [[metropolitan borough council]] and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. The council is a member of the [[South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority]].

The council was under [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] majority control since the modern borough was created in 1974 until 2026, when [[Reform UK]] won a majority of seats in the [[2026 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council election]].<ref name="bbc_2026">{{cite news |title=Reform UK ends 50 years of Labour leadership in Barnsley |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g843867w1o |work=BBC News |date=8 May 2026}}</ref> Council meetings are held at [[Barnsley Town Hall]], and the council's main offices are in the adjoining Westgate Plaza One building.

==History== The first elected council for the town of [[Barnsley]] was a [[local board of health]] established in 1853.<ref>{{cite news |title=Barnsley Local Board of Health |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/search-newspapers |access-date=18 June 2023 |work=Newcastle Courant |date=8 July 1853}}</ref> This replaced a body of [[improvement commissioners]] which had previously administered the town under a [[Local and personal Acts of Parliament (United Kingdom)|local act of Parliament]], the [[Barnsley Improvement Act 1822]] ([[3 Geo. 4]]. c. xxv).<ref>{{cite web |title=Barnsley Improvement Act 1822 (3 Geo 4 c. 25) |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Geo4/3/25/contents/enacted |website=legislation.gov.uk |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref> The local board in turn was replaced in 1869 when the town was made a [[municipal borough]]. In 1913 the borough was elevated to [[county borough]] status, making it independent from [[West Riding County Council]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Barnsley Municipal Borough / County Borough |url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10186572 |website=A Vision of Britain through Time |publisher=GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth |access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref>

The current [[metropolitan borough]] of Barnsley was created on 1 April 1974 under the [[Local Government Act 1972]]. It covered the former county borough of Barnsley plus parts of 13 other districts, which were all abolished at the same time.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1972|year=1972|chapter=70|access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=si|si=The Metropolitan Districts (Names) Order 1973|year=1973|number=137|access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref> The enlarged Barnsley district was awarded [[borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] from its creation, allowing the chair of the council to take the title of mayor, continuing Barnsley's series of mayors dating back to 1869.<ref name="hans74">{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/written-answers/1974/mar/28/district-councils-and-boroughs#S5CV0871P0_19740328_CWA_145|title=District Councils and Boroughs|date=28 March 1974|work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|access-date=16 January 2012}}</ref>

The Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley was initially a district-level authority, with [[South Yorkshire County Council]] providing county-level services. However, the [[metropolitan county]] councils, including South Yorkshire County Council, were abolished in 1986 under the [[Local Government Act 1985]]. Since 1986 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council has therefore been responsible for most local government functions.<ref>{{cite legislation UK|type=act|act=Local Government Act 1985|year=1985|chapter=51|access-date=18 June 2023}}</ref>

Since 2014 the council has been a constituent member of the [[South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority]] (called the Sheffield City Region until 2021), led by the [[Directly elected mayors in England|directly-elected]] [[Mayor of South Yorkshire]] since 2018.

==Governance== ===Political control=== The first election to the reconstituted borough council was held in 1973, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until the new arrangements came into force on 1 April 1974. [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] held a majority of the seats on the council from its creation until the 2026 election, when [[Reform UK]] took control.<ref name="change">{{cite news| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/bsp/hi/elections/local_council/08/html/cc.stm | title = Barnsley | access-date = 17 October 2009 | work = [[BBC News Online]] | date=19 April 2008}}</ref><ref name=compositions>{{cite web |title=Compositions Calculator |url=https://www.electionscentre.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/composition_calc.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |website=The Elections Centre |publisher=University of Exeter}} (Put "Barnsley" in search box to see specific results.)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-08 |title=Reform UK ends 50 years of Labour leadership in Barnsley |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g843867w1o |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="2"|Party in control!!Years |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}"| | Labour | 1974–2026 |- |style="color:inherit;background-color: {{party color|Brexit Party}}" | | Reform UK | rowspan="3" |2026– |}

===Leadership=== The role of mayor is largely ceremonial in Barnsley. Political leadership is provided by the [[leader of the council]]. The leaders since 1974 have been:

{| class=wikitable ! Councillor !! colspan=2|Party !! From !! To |- | Brian Varley<ref>{{cite news |title='Don't do a Clay Cross' warning to protesters |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0005574%2F19740525&page=3 |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=South Yorkshire Times |date=25 May 1974 |page=3}}</ref><ref name=SYT22Feb1975/><ref name=glancing/> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1974 || align=right|1975 |- | Ron Fisher<ref name=SYT22Feb1975>{{cite news |title=New leader |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0005574%2F19750222&page=20 |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=South Yorkshire Times |date=22 February 1975 |page=20}}</ref><ref name=glancing>{{cite news |title=1975: Glancing back |url=https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/article/13680/1975-glancing-back |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=Barnsley Chronicle |date=14 May 2018}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|Feb 1975 || align=right|May 1975 |- | Ron Rigby<ref name=glancing/> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|May 1975 || align=right|1976 |- | Fred Lunn<ref>{{cite news |title=Death of Barnsley Council Leader |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0005574%2F19841214&page=29 |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=South Yorkshire Times |date=14 December 1984 |page=29}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1976 || align=right|11 Dec 1984 |- | Ron Rigby<ref>{{cite news |title=Coal communities launch survival campaign |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0005574%2F19850118&page=13 |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=South Yorkshire Times |date=18 January 1985 |page=13}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Welcome boost for village |url=https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0005574%2F19880422&page=52 |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=South Yorkshire Times |date=22 April 1988 |page=52}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1985 || align=right|1988 |- | Hedley Salt<ref>{{cite news |title=Council mourns death of ex-leader |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/south_yorkshire/4308705.stm |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=BBC News |date=1 March 2005}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1988 || align=right|1995 |- | [[Jeff Ennis]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Andrews |first1=Danielle |title=Tributes paid to retiring long-standing councillor who has 'dedicated his life' to Barnsley |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/politics/tributes-paid-to-retiring-long-standing-councillor-who-has-dedicated-his-life-to-barnsley-4572733 |access-date=24 June 2025 |work=The Star |date=28 March 2024}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1995 || align=right|1996 |- | [[Stephen Houghton]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Sir Stephen Houghton OBE |url=https://lga.moderngov.co.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=448 |website=LGA Governance |publisher=Local Government Association |access-date=24 June 2025}}</ref> || {{party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=right|1996 || align=right|2026 |- | William Brown<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reform UK group in Barnsley chooses a Leader and Deputy Leader |url=https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/news/reform-uk-group-in-barnsley-chooses-a-leader-and-deputy-leader/ |access-date=2026-05-23 |website=Barnsley Council |language=en}}</ref>||{{party name with colour|Reform UK}}|| align=right|2026 || align=right|present |}

===Composition=== Following the [[2026 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council election|2026 election]], the composition of the council was: <ref name="bbc_2026" />

{| class="wikitable" ! colspan=2| Party ! Councillors |- | {{Party name with colour|Reform UK}} || align=center|42 |- | {{Party name with colour|Labour Party (UK)}} || align=center|11 |- | {{Party name with colour|Liberal Democrats (UK)}} || align=center|8 |- | {{Party name with colour|Independent politician}} || align=center|2 |- ! colspan=2|Total ! align=center|63 |}

==Premises== [[File:Westgate Barnsley - geograph.org.uk - 3828518.jpg|thumb|Westgate Plaza One (on the right)]] Council meetings are held at [[Barnsley Town Hall]] on Church Street, which had been completed in 1933 for the old borough council.<ref>{{cite web |title=Town Hall |url=https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/services/our-council/town-hall/ |website=Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council |access-date=19 June 2023}}</ref> In 2007 the council moved most office staff to a new building called Westgate Plaza One on Westgate, just west of the Town Hall.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cabinet report, 18 May 2022 |url=https://barnsleymbc.moderngov.co.uk/documents/s95361/Westgate%20Offices%20and%20Smart%20Working.pdf |website=Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council |access-date=19 June 2023}}</ref>

==Elections== {{see also|Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council elections}} Since the last ward boundary changes in 2025, the council has comprised 63 [[councillor]]s representing 21 [[wards and electoral divisions of the United Kingdom|wards]], with each ward electing three councillors to sit for a four year term. Elections are held every four years, with all seats contested, following a council decision in 2025 to replace the previous policy of 1/3 of seats (one per ward) being elected per year for 3 years, with the 4th year having no elections</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Local authorities in South Yorkshire}} {{Metropolitan districts of England}} {{Authority control}}

[[Category:Metropolitan district councils of England]] [[Category:Local authorities in South Yorkshire]] [[Category:Leader and cabinet executives]] [[Category:Local education authorities in England]] [[Category:Billing authorities in England]] [[Category:1973 establishments in England]] [[Category:Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley|Council]]