The Dearne Area Council convened to discuss updates on commissioning, finances, and ward alliance activities. The Dearne Area Council Manager submitted reports on these topics for the members to review. The meeting also included a review of the minutes from the previous meeting.

Ward Alliance Fund Spend

The Dearne Area Council was scheduled to receive an update on the Dearne North and South Ward Alliance Fund spend. According to the report, the Dearne North Ward Alliance had a starting balance of £10,214.86 for the 2025/26 financial year. As of August 2025, they had spent £3,948.52, leaving a remaining balance of £6,266.34. The ward alliance also had £1,557.70 in their working funds, earmarked for specific priorities.

The Dearne South Ward Alliance had a starting budget of £10,413.65 for the same period. They had spent £2,991.33, leaving a remaining balance of £7,422.32. The Ward Alliance also had £6,136.34 in their working funds, committed to projects against area priorities.

The report included a breakdown of the Dearne North and South Ward Alliance Spend.

For Dearne South Ward Alliance, the report stated that:

For the 2025/26 financial year the Ward Alliance has the following available budget.

£10,000 base allocation + CF £413.65 from 2024/25 £10,413.65 total available funding

Allocations included:

• £330 for the Urban Impact self defence group to purchase self-defence classes equipment
• £980.12 for Barnsley Premier Leisure (BPL) Funetics sessions
• £425.94 for equipment for the Renaissance Centre
• £1,085.27 for a sprinkler/pump system at the Dearne Bowling Club
• £170 for banners promoting mental health contacts for the Samaritans

For Dearne North Ward Alliance, the report stated that:

For the 2025-2026 financial year the Ward Alliance has the following available budget. £10,000 base allocation + CF £214.86 from 2024/25 £10,214.86 total available funding

Allocations included:

• £450 for a Windsor Gardens coach trip with Royal Flush
• £980.12 for BPL Funetics sessions
• £500 for secretary payments for ward alliance minutes and agenda setting
• £820 for a Summer Fun Day and Charity Match
• £598.40 to The Rainbow Centre to purchase new chairs for the community centre
• £600 for an outdoor cinema in Thurnscoe Park

Ward Alliance Notes

The Dearne Area Council was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of the Dearne Ward Alliance. The report included notes from the Dearne South Ward Alliance meeting held on 26 August 2025, and the Dearne North Ward Alliance meeting held on 8 July 2025.

The Dearne South Ward Alliance meeting included guest speakers who provided insights into local programs, initiatives, and services offering support for local residents. These included:

• Andrea Spencer & Malcom Gibson from Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
• Leon Sidebottom, Rhea Bird from Berneslai Homes
• Maddison Brown, Love Where You Live Project Officer, Barnsley MBC

The Ward Alliance discussed a funding application for £170 from the Samaritans for localised promotional banners to be placed around Dearne South to raise awareness of their phone numbers in case of emergencies. They also discussed a potential Ward Alliance Fund application for the Stronger, Health & Wealth event for refreshments.

The Dearne North Ward Alliance meeting included Cheryl Harris from the Dearne Area Environmental Team as a guest speaker. Cheryl Harris provided an update about the work the environmental team had been doing in Dearne North, including maintenance of raised beds, regular litter picks, and collaboration with neighbourhood services on ginnels¹ in Goldthorpe.

The Ward Alliance discussed funding requests for:

• £1160 for a Family Fun Day and Charity Match
• £598.40 to purchase twenty new chairs for the Rainbow Centre
• £150 to continue with the coffee morning at Goldthorpe Library

The meeting also included an update on the Beds for Babies pilot in Goldthorpe, and the school uniform voucher scheme. Councillor Wendy Cain, Cabinet Spokesperson - Public Health and Communities, gave an update about the recently launched vouchers scheme for school uniforms, where families are entitled to £50 for primary school and £100 for secondary uniforms.

Commissioning Update

The Dearne Area Council was scheduled to receive an update on the Dearne Area Council commissioned services. The report provided information on the performance of the Environmental Team, the Housing Officer, Dearne Electronic Community Village, and the Social Connectivity Service BFriend.

According to the report, the Environmental Team continued to work with volunteers, groups, residents, the team, and elected members. The Housing Officer continued to work on both reactive and proactive issues, and was well embedded into the team. The Dearne Electronic Community Village employability service was in its second quarter of the new contract, and continued to recruit learners seeking advice on employment and digital skills. BFriend started their new contract on 1 July, and conversations were taking place about the possibility of developing a new social group in Goldthorpe.

Financial Update

The Dearne Area Council was scheduled to receive an update regarding the Dearne Area Council's financial position. The report outlined the committed spend for 2025/26 and 2026/27, together with information about the Dearne Development Fund.

According to the report, the Dearne Area Council had an underspend of £55,183.74 in their core budget (not including the Dearne Development Fund) for the financial year 2024/25. Out of the 2025/26 budget, the Dearne Area Council had already committed to an employability service, Housing Officer, social inclusion, and environmental team. The area council had also put £20,000 into the Dearne Development Fund, meaning their total spend out of the core budget was £199,678.81, leaving £56,103.93 in the core budget.

Out of the Dearne Development Fund, members had paid for DIAL², Goldthorpe Development Group older persons get together, and Thurnscoe Tap contribution, leaving £20,242.41 in this fund. Therefore, the amount left in both budgets totalled £76,346.34.