Article: Councillors - general information Article Body There are 63 councillors, elected in thirds every 4 years. They are democratically accountable to residents of the ward. They have a duty to the whole community and a special duty to constituents, including those who did not vote for them. They have to abide by the code of conduct, accountable to the Standards Board. All councillors meet together as a council to set overall policy and budget. The current politcal composition of the Council consists of the following:- Labour 52 Members, Independents 5 Members, Conservatives 5 Members, Non-Aligned 1 Member. Only registered voters of the Metropolitan Borough or those living or working there are eligible to hold office. If you are unsure which ward you are in, or have been subjected to boundary changes, you can find out your ward by using the Interactive Maps. The Council operates a Members' Allowance Scheme and each Member (Councillor) receives a Basic Allowance. The Scheme also includes Special Responsibility Allowances paid for particular duties. Travel, subsistence, dependent carers' and co-optees' allowances are paid for undertaking approved duties specified in the Scheme. Expenses are only reimbursed where incurred on "approved duties" and relate to travel, subsistence and dependent carers' costs. Member Services can be contacted at:- Members' Services P O Box 634 Barnsley S70 9GG Tel: 01226 773055 Email: Members Services As part of the new neighbourhood arrangements, area delivery panels have been established. If you would like to know more about your service area, you can contact your Area Delivery Panel which will be able to tell you about upcoming events and explain how you can have your say in influencing the way services are delivered in your area. Normal office hours are Monday to Thursday 8.30 am to 5pm and Friday 8.30 am to 4.30 pm (except bank holidays). Should you need assistance out of office hours you should make direct contact with your local member. MAYOR Cllr. Karen Dyson DEPUTY MAYOR Cllr. Margaret Sheard LEADER OF THE COUNCIL Cllr. Stephen Houghton CBE DEPUTY LEADER Cllr. Jim Andrews OPPOSITION GROUPS Independent group leader: Cllr. P. Birkinshaw Conservative: Cllr. Wilson Non Aligned: no leader Central Ward Councillor Doug Birkinshaw Labour Councillor Margaret Bruff Labour Councillor Martin Dyson Labour Cudworth Ward Councillor Charlie Wraith Labour Councillor Joe Hayward Labour Councillor Stephen Houghton CBE Labour Darfield Ward Councillor Brian Key Labour Councillor Caroline Saunders Labour Councillor Pauline Markham Labour Darton East Ward Councillor Harry Spence No Party Councillor Lesley Duerden Labour Councillor Roy Miller Labour Darton West Ward Councillor Alice Cave Labour Councillor Linda Burgess Labour Councillor Sharon Howard Labour Dearne North Ward Councillor Alan Gardiner Labour Councillor Janice Hancock Labour Councillor Jennifer Worton Labour Dearne South Ward Area Partnership Councillor May Noble Labour Councillor Ralph Sixsmith Labour Councillor Sharron Brook Labour Dodworth Ward Councillor Brian Perrin Barnsley Independent Group Councillor Jack Carr Barnsley Independent Group Councillor Phillip Birkinshaw Barnsley Independent Group Hoyland Milton Ward Councillor Mick Stowe Labour Councillor Robin Franklin Labour Councillor Tim Shepherd Labour Kingstone Ward Councillor Donna Green Labour Councillor Kathryn Mitchell Labour Councillor Tom Sheard Labour Monk Bretton Ward Councillor Ken Richardson Labour Councillor Margaret Sheard Labour Councillor Steve Green Labour North East Ward Councillor Dave North Barnsley Independent Group Councillor Dorothy Higginbottom Labour Councillor Jeff Ennis Labour Old Town Ward Councillor Anita Cherryholme Labour Councillor Penny Lofts Labour Councillor Phil Davies Labour Penistone East Ward Councillor John Wilson Conservatives Councillor Paul Hand-Davis Conservatives Councillor Robert Barnard Conservatives Penistone West Ward Councillor Andrew Millner Conservatives Councillor Ann Rusby Conservatives Councillor Peter Starling Labour Rockingham Ward Councillor Chris Lamb Labour Councillor Emma Dures Labour Councillor Jim Andrews Labour Royston Ward Councillor Graham Kyte Labour Councillor Tim Cheetham Labour Councillor Tracy Cheetham Labour St. Helen's Ward Councillor David Leech Labour Councillor Jenny Platts Labour Councillor Sarah Tattersall Labour Stairfoot Ward Councillor Brian Mathers Labour Councillor Karen Dyson Labour Councillor Wayne Johnson Labour Wombwell Ward Councillor Denise Wilde Labour Councillor Margaret Morgan Labour Councillor Richard Wraith Labour Worsbrough Ward Councillor Betty Barlow Labour Councillor Gill Carr Barnsley Independent Group Councillor John Clarke Labour Barnsley Youth Council has 34 members made up from secondary schools, Barnsley College, Penistone Sixth Form and Greenacre. Young people who are home schooled or attend a school from out of the area are also represented.