Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council has delivered both borough and upper-tier services across Barnsley and its South Yorkshire towns since 1974. The borough had about 244,600 residents at the 2021 census. Its 63 councillors represent 21 three-member wards.

The May 2026 all-out election ended Labour's long control of the authority. Open Council Data records a Reform UK majority, with 42 Reform councillors, 11 Labour councillors, eight Liberal Democrats and two others. Penistone East returned two Labour members and one Reform member in that election.

Labour gained the vacant Reform seat in Penistone East in August 2026. This changed the ward's representation to three Labour councillors and reduced Reform's council majority by one seat.