Barnsley Council is exploring the possibility of changing to whole council elections every four years starting in May 2026.  

This change also follows a recommendation from the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge in December 2024, which suggests moving to all-out elections to enhance stability. This also reflects the move from other councils to whole council elections. 

As part of the Devolution White Paper, the government has proposed to change how local councils work through re-organisation. This means most councils should have a population of 500,000 people or more. Barnsley Council has around 250,000 people and we want to show that even though we are smaller, we manage our borough effectively and can continue to deliver quality services for our residents through strong and stable leadership. 

We currently have 63 councillors, with 21 wards and three councillors per ward. We hold elections over a four year cycle. A third of seats are elected every year for three years, no elections are made in the fourth year. 

Changing to whole council elections would mean that all seats on the Council would be elected at the same time, once every four years. This would achieve an estimated saving of £1.2 million over the next seven years. 

Cabinet will be asked to consider consulting with residents on the proposed changes to the election cycle. If agreed, a six-week public consultation will run from 20 March until 2 May 2025.  

The outcome of the consultation will be considered at a special meeting of the Full Council on 22 May 2025. 

Sarah Norman, Chief Executive of Barnsley Council, said: “At a time of local government reorganisation, securing our council’s future is paramount. We’re committed to maintaining strong and stable leadership which is essential for effective governance and long-term planning. 

 “We want our council to reflect modern ways of working, and this potential change highlights how we’re transforming long-standing systems and effective use of resources to improve public services for our residents now and in the future. 

“It’s crucial for residents to have their say in shaping the future of how they elect their representatives." 

You can read the Cabinet report on our website.