These are the results of the local government elections. They were held on Thursday 3 May 2012.
Central ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Birkinshaw, Douglas | Labour | 1,262 Elected |
| Gibson, Dave | Independent | 347 |
| Haynes, Anne | Conservative | 129 |
| Porter, Colin | The English Democrats - 'Putting England First' | 286 |
Cudworth ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Campbell, Anne | Conservative | 124 |
| Houghton, Steve | Labour | 1,684 Elected |
| Hubbard, Terry | British National Party | 244 |
| Stacey, Carol | The English Democrats - 'Putting England First' | 115 |
| Wright, Gill | UK Independence Party (UKIP) | 220 |
Darfield ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Burnett, David | English Democrats - 'Putting England First' | 209 |
| Hancock, Carmen E | Barnsley Independent Group | 984 |
| Hill, George | Conservative | 115 |
| Saunders, Caroline | Labour | 1,142 Elected |
Darton East ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Duerden, Lesley | Labour | 1,172 Elected |
| Love, Sharon | Barnsley Independent Group | 910 |
| Pearson, Howard | Conservative | 234 |
| Sutton, Sharon | The English Democrats - 'Putting England First!' | 185 |
| Wilson, Ben | Liberal Democrats | 58 |
Darton West ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Cave, Alice | Labour | 1,608 Elected |
| England, Sam | Conservative | 488 |
| Sutton, Ian | The English Democrats - 'Putting England First' | 505 |
Dearne North ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Garner, Ian | Barnsley Independent Group | 501 |
| Robinson, Jonathan | Conservative | 87 |
| Worton, Jennifer Margaret | Labour | 1,314 Elected |
Dearne South ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Brook, Sharron | Labour | 1,848 Elected |
| Buckley, Paul Edward | Conservative | 114 |
| Garner, Susan Elaine | Barnsley Independent Group | 277 |
Dodworth ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Barr, Andrew | Conservative | 292 |
| Birkinshaw, Phillip | Barnsley Independent Group | 1,396 Elected |
| Wright, Tony | Labour | 1,165 |
Hoyland Milton ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Caton, Brian | Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition | 125 |
| Hill, Elizabeth | Conservative | 183 |
| Krska, Damion | Barnsley Independent Group | 635 |
| Saxton, Justin | The English Democrats - 'Putting England First' | 243 |
| Stowe, Mick | Labour | 1,524 Elected |
Kingstone ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Bowden, Geoff | Barnsley Independent Group | 458 |
| Cooke, Danny | British National Party | 116 |
| Green, Donna | Labour | 1,099 Elected |
| Walker, Nathan | The English Democrats - 'Putting England First' | 120 |
| Watkinson, Clive | Conservative | 94 |
Monk Bretton ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Brown, Grace | Independent | 719 |
| Green, Steve | Labour | 1,398 Elected |
| Hubbard, Jane | British National Party | 286 |
| Pilkington, Chris | Conservative | 116 |
North East ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Ennis, Jeff | Labour | 1,625 Elected |
| Milner, Stella | Barnsley Independent Group | 1,250 |
| Murray, Peter | Conservative | 137 |
Old Town ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Davies, Phil | Labour | 1,391 Elected |
| Oldfield, Howard | Conservative | 182 |
| Peace, David | The English Democrats - 'Putting England First' | 206 |
| Pickering, Clive | Barnsley Independent Group | 665 |
| Wood, Donald | Independent | 214 |
Penistone East ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Hayler, Jill | Labour | 1,298 |
| Heathcote, Glynis | Liberal Democrats | 629 |
| Wilson, John | Conservative | 1,405 Elected |
Penistone West ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Starling, Peter John | Labour | 1,389 Elected |
| Teal, Robert | Liberal Democrats | 190 |
| Webber, Steve | Conservative | 1,337 |
Rockingham ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Dures, Emma Patricia | Labour | 1,611 Elected |
| Riddiough, Kevin David | The English Democrats - 'Putting England First' | 253 |
| Sylvester, Steve | Barnsley Independent Group | 774 |
| Toon, Mike | Conservative | 168 |
Royston ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Gouthwaite, Edward Alan | Independent | 248 |
| Johnson, Jim | UK Independence Party (UKIP) | 322 |
| Kyte, Graham | Labour | 1,573 Elected |
| Millner, Gill | Conservative | 117 |
| Robinson, Paul | The English Democrats - 'Putting England First' | 73 |
St Helen's ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Tattersall, Sarah Jane | Labour | 1,387 Elected |
| Walker, Dean | The English Democrats - 'Putting England First' | 22 |
| Watkinson, Lesley | Conservative | 85 |
Stairfoot ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Baker, Sandra | British National Party | 193 |
| Clowery, Fred | Barnsley Independent Group | 981 |
| Johnson, Wayne | Labour | 1,140 Elected |
| Watson, Frank | Socialist Labour Party | 58 |
| Weldon, Delia | Conservative | 102 |
Wombwell ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Carnell, Gary | The English Democrats - 'Putting England First' | 192 |
| Morgan, Margaret | Labour | 1,769 Elected |
| Smith, Trevor | Barnsley Independent Group | 329 |
| Wilkinson, Alex | Conservative | 124 |
Worsbrough ward
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| Carr, Gill | Barnsley Independent Group | 1,108 Elected |
| Robinson, Terry | Socialist Labour Party | 126 |
| Smith, Helen Jean | Conservative Party | 124 |
| Williams, Kevin | Labour | 969 |