Monitoring officer

We're required to have a chief monitoring officer, who has defined statutory duties in respect of matters or legality, conduct and probity. The monitoring officer may not be the head of paid service, but will liaise with the head of paid service as appropriate to carry out their duties.

Our monitoring officer

Our chief monitoring officer is Andrew Perriman. You can contact him in the following ways:

Email: andrewperriman@barnsley.gov.uk
In writing: Monitoring Officer, Barnsley Council, Town Hall, Church Street, Barnsley, S70 2TA

Functions of the monitoring officer

Maintaining the constitution

The monitoring officer maintains an up-to-date version of the constitution. They make sure this is widely available for consultation by elected members, employees and members of the public.

Ensuring lawfulness and fairness of decision making

After consulting with the head of paid service and chief finance officer, the monitoring officer will report to the full council (or to the cabinet in relation to an executive function) if they consider that:

any proposal, decision or omission would give rise to unlawfulness
any decision or omission has given rise to inefficient or dishonest administration

Such a report will have the effect of stopping the proposal or decision being considered.

Supporting the appeals, awards and standards regulatory board

The monitoring officer will contribute to the promotion and maintenance of high standards of conduct through the provision of support to the appeals, awards and standards regulatory board.

Determining the composition of panels

The monitoring officer will determine the composition of any panels being selected from the board, in consultation with the chairman of the board and in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions governing the matter that is the subject of the appeal.

Conducting investigations

The monitoring officer will determine whether or not a complaint under the ethical standards framework and member code of conduct should be explored following consultation with the independent person. They will make arrangements for any complaint to be looked into accordingly.

Determining applications for dispensation

The monitoring officer will determine applications for dispensations from the code of conduct, following consultation with the independent person, where the number of members otherwise precluded from taking part in a decision would either:

impede the conduct of business
interfere with the political balance of the decision-making body

Ensuring access to information

The monitoring officer will ensure that decisions of the cabinet, reasons for those decisions, relevant officer reports, and background papers are made publicly available as soon as possible to people requesting them.

Offering advice on cabinet decisions

The monitoring officer will advise whether decisions of the cabinet are in accordance with the budget and policy framework approved by the council. Decisions outside that framework will require approval of the full council.

Providing advice

The monitoring officer will provide advice on the scope of statutory powers and authority of the council or cabinet to take decisions, issues relating to inefficient or dishonest administration, conduct and probity, the budget, and policy framework, to all elected members.

Maintaining the register of member's interests

The monitoring officer will establish and maintain a register of interests of members and co-opted members of the authority.

Further information is available under the 'documents relating to members of the council' section of the council's constitution.

Complaining about a councillor

You're entitled to expect the highest standards of conduct from all members of the council. If you're unhappy with the actions of a councillor, you can make a complaint. See our complaints and compliments page for details of how to complain about a councillor.