Parish council elections to move forward a year after Barnsley councillors approve timetable change
Parish council elections across Barnsley will take place a year earlier than planned after councillors backed a proposal to align the timetable with the borough’s new four-year electoral cycle.
The decision, approved at a full council meeting on Wednesday (November 27), means the next ordinary parish elections will now be held on May 7 2026, bringing them back into step with Barnsley Council’s own all-out elections on the same day.
All 15 parish councils had previously indicated support for the change during a consultation earlier this year. The council’s chief executive wrote to parish councils in June asking for their views, and all responded in favour of moving the elections forward by 12 months.
Under the existing timetable, parish council elections were scheduled for May 2027, a year in which no other polls were due to take place. A report to councillors said running standalone contested elections would have left individual parish councils covering the full cost of administering the vote, with larger parishes potentially facing bills of up to £50,000.
Officers told councillors that aligning the electoral timetable avoids those costs and brings parish and borough elections back into sync.
The proposals were approved unanimously following a vote.
The report also stated that the change has no direct financial implications for Barnsley Council and carries no equality, sustainability or staffing impacts.
Parish councils will now be formally notified of the decision and asked to make residents aware of the revised electoral timetable.
A council report added that the change reflects strong support from parish councils and ensures elections remain cost-effective.