There are five Scrutiny Commission. Meetings are held in the Council Chamber, Barnsley Town Hall and are attended by those elected members who are not members of the Executive and who have been allocated to that Commission. Each Commission is serviced by a Scrutiny Officers.

Members of the Cabinet, Directors and officers of the authority, representatives from partner and outside organisations are brought in to give reports and answer questions on aspect of policy and/or provision of services relative to governance of the Borough.

Members of the public can request their elected representative to ask an appropriate question on their behalf or to raise an issue for scrutinising. Contact us if you wish to discuss this further.

The Commission will scrutinise services, policies and initiatives and the role of relevant external agencies to regenerate the Borough and address levels of education training and skills to secure a prosperous economic future for Barnsley.

As part of this the Commission will look at how the Council and different public and private sector organisations are contributing to the economic regeneration of the Borough.

The Commission will also examine what progress Barnsley has made towards becoming a twenty first century market town and developing a prosperous 'digital' economy.

The Commission will scrutinise workforce development and training; and in particular help for Barnsley people to acquire the skills and abilities which they need in a changing economic environment. It will scrutinise policies and initiatives to help Barnsley people, including young people, those from the Black Minority Ethnic communities and people with disabilities, to develop entrepreneurial skills and establish new businesses.

The Commission will look at the contribution schools and higher education institutions are making to the creation of a highly skilled, well educated, workforce. The Commission will scrutinise the impact on the economy and skills of people in the Borough of nationally determined policy and organisational changes and finance driven service reductions, which public bodies are required to make.

The Commission will scrutinise services policies and initiatives and the role of relevant external agencies to promote the long term physical sustainability of Barnsley.

As part of this it will look at what is being done to promote low carbon use in the Borough and the take-up of alternative, low carbon technologies, both by the public and private sector as well as the wider Barnsley community.

The Commission will scrutinise the physical infrastructure of Barnsley and how the Borough's accommodation requirements are currently being met, how these requirements may change in the future and how these future requirements will be met for all Barnsley people, including young people, those from the Black Minority Ethnic communities and people with disabilities.

The Commission will look at Barnsley's transport systems, and especially the way in which the road network is maintained, measures to reduce traffic congestion and initiatives to improve public transport. It will also look at the long term development of Barnsley's transport infrastructure and the future requirements for travel within the Borough and from the Borough to other parts of the country.

The Commission will scrutinise policies and initiatives to meet the environmental challenges facing the Borough, and especially the challenges of flooding and air pollution.

The Commission will scrutinise the impact on the physical sustainability of the Borough of nationally determined policy and organisational changes and finance driven service reductions, which public bodies are required to make.

The Commission will scrutinise those services, policies and initiatives and the role of relevant external agencies that contribute to the well-being of Barnsley's different geographical and other communities.

As part of this it will look at community cohesion, especially between communities of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. It will look at cohesion between different communities of interest, such as young and older people.

The Commission will examine the way in which the Council and other public sector bodies are building a new relationship with the communities whom they serve and how they are 'empowering' these communities, so that they can take greater responsibility for their own futures and become more self-reliant.

The Commission will look at what is being done to prevent and tackle crime and anti social behaviour in the Borough and to help its victims.

The Commission will examine how the Council's regulatory functions protect the well being of our communities.

It will examine measures to keep our communities healthy and to combat ill-health and will consider how the Council, NHS and other organisations are working together to promote the health and well being of Barnsley residents and reduce health inequalities in the Borough. It will scrutinise what is being done to meet the health needs of young people, Black Minority Ethnic communities and those with disabilities.

The Commission will scrutinise the impact on the community well-being of the Borough of nationally determined policy changes and finance driven service reductions, which public bodies have been required to make.

The Commission will scrutinise services, policies and initiatives and the role of relevant external agencies to promote and improve the personal wellbeing of people who live and work in Barnsley

As part of this it will look at how the Council, Schools and other bodies provide learning and other personal development opportunities for children, young people, adults and families to fulfil their potential.

The Commission will examine how the Council and other agencies provide for the safeguarding of children and adults and how vulnerable children and adults, such as the elderly, those with special needs and people with disabilities, are being cared for.

The Commission will scrutinise the impact on the personal and family well-being in the Borough of nationally determined policy and organisational changes and finance driven service reductions, which public bodies are required to make.

In addition to the new commissions, the Cross Cutting Scrutiny Commission is to be retained with its existing terms of reference to consider Cabinet business as required which does not fall within any of the above portfolio themes.