A COMPETITION to create a piece of public art had to be re-run because the original winner's company were the promoters and his wife was on the panel which awarded him the prize.

Patrick Murphy's design for Mandela Gardens was selected by a panel made up of his wife Tracey Johnson, Barnsley Council's assistant director of culture, sports and tourism Graham Noble and one of his colleagues.

The £3,000 council-funded project had only been advertised by Creative Barnsley nine days before the deadline. The closing date was then put back five days after it was revealed that emails sent out to inform artists and their agents of the competition had only been received two days before the original deadline.

Even then Ms Johnson admitted few entries were submitted and she selected two for the shortlist.

She says the lack of preparation time for artists was due to the tight schedule of the project.

Artist Mr Murphy had resigned as a director of Creative Barnsley, a not-for-profit company, days after the competition was launched. Ms Johnson says she did not take part in choosing her husband.

Graham Noble confirmed this, saying that he and the other officer were responsible for the final decision but admitted that, with hindsight, Ms Johnson should perhaps not have been involved.

The Chronicle has learned that when council leader Coun Steve Houghton discovered what had happened he ordered the competition be re-run with a new selection panel. Sheffield artist David Appleyard was chosen as winner.

Council director for development David Kennedy, another member of his staff and Coun Bill Newman sat on the second panel.

Mr Kennedy praised the work Creative Barnsley has already done and said: “Tracey and Patrick genuinely didn't intend anything by this, they are new to this kind of operation. They were perfectly happy to rerun the process and have not made any kind of complaint.”