BARNSLEY residents will be asked to have their say on devolution under council plans to break the deadlock across the region over a preferred deal.
Plans to hold a landmark community poll have been announced by Barnsley Council to gauge public opinion on the best way forward for the town.
Voters will be asked to choose between the current Sheffield City Region deal or a proposed wider Yorkshire agreement, should proposals to hold the poll be approved at full council next week. Doncaster Council is to do the same.
Barnsley was due to be part of the £900m Sheffield City Region devolution deal which would have brought money and powers to be administered locally under a directly elected Mayor for South Yorkshire.
But that deal stumbled when Barnsley and Doncaster pulled, opting to pursue a wider Yorkshire deal, arguing the Sheffield City Region option was too small after the earlier withdrawal of councils from North Derbyshire.
Despite this setback, an election is still planned for May 2018 to elect a South Yorkshire mayor - who will have no powers - thought to be costing in the region of £2m.
Barnsley Council leader Coun Sir Steve Houghton said that while its proposed community poll is not legally binding, the council will listen to the people and follow their wishes even if the outcome is not the one he favours.
He said: "Barnsley and Doncaster have decided to do significant consultation on it because we feel we have got to get the public view on this.
"Clearly there are differences across the city region and with government and in the end this is about the future of the two boroughs for the next 30 years.
"It is important people in Barnsley have a say and to do that we are going to hold a community poll in the next couple of months. The aim is to have a result by Christmas.
"We will ask people, do they want to pursue a deal on a wider Yorkshire basis or in the Sheffield City Region and let Barnsley residents have a say on it.
"The reason we are doing it through a community poll is the last consultation on the city region deal was poor - only about 105 Barnsley residents responded.
"This is not a referendum or a local election.
"The community poll is not legally binding, but from the council's perspective it will give us the direction we need. We will listen to it.
"The cost of it is £120,000 and while that is a decent sum of money what we are talking about is for the next 30 years.
"We will be doing it by postal vote because that keeps the costs down and will increase turn out."
Ballot papers would be sent out to everyone who is registered to vote with the question: "I would prefer Barnsley Council to pursue a Devolution proposal with: (a) a wider Yorkshire (b) Sheffield City Region."
When asked whether people really understand devolution and what it means for Barnsley, Sir Steve accepted it is a complex issue which is why the council will be putting out information packs to help people understand what is at stake.
He said: "We're going to make sure the information sent out with ballot papers explains the issues and options.
"Every registered elector will get a ballot paper and we're looking at the possibility of being able to do it online too.
"As Barnsley Council we think we should be part of that wider Yorkshire deal but we're anxious to hear the public view around this."
Sir Steve has made his position clear, saying the wider 'One Yorkshire' deal will help Barnsley's economy prosper – bringing in at least £100m a year, and give the region a powerful voice to lobby central government.
He said: "The wider Yorkshire deal brings more powers, will have more money, more influence on government and the Barnsley economy looks not just southwards but north towards Leeds and Wakefield and it is important to have strong economic links not just with South Yorkshire and Sheffield but West Yorkshire and beyond. It is a big opportunity if this could be achieved."
