COUNCILLORS will discuss plans to align the town’s parish council elections with Barnsley Council’s next all-out elections to save cash.

Following consultation, these plans aim to streamline the electoral process and minimise costs.

If approved, the next parish council elections will take place on May 7, 2026 the same day as Barnsley Council’s next all-out elections.

This change means that both elections would align to the same four-year cycle.

Moving the parish council elections to May would remove extra costs of holding elections on different dates, the council said.

All fifteen parish councils have given responses in favour of the change.

A council report said: “Having exercised its power to move to whole council elections, it is appropriate for the council to consider the implications of this decision for parish councils.

“In her letter to the parish councils on June 17, the chief executive was clear that the council had no firm view on this issue and would be guided by the responses she received from the parish councils.

“She also stated that she would prefer a consensus on the issue and that if views on the proposal were mixed that the council would not seek to change the current position.”

Councillor Robert Frost, cabinet spokesperson for core services, added: “We are grateful for the engagement from our parish councils on this proposal.

“We are committed to implementing changes that reflect their views and best serve our communities.

“If approved, aligning the election cycles will make the process more efficient and reduce unnecessary costs.”