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Towcester Young Unemployed Need More Support

Councillor Chris Lofts
Councillor Chris Lofts has urged South Northants Council to do more for local young unemployed people.  Parts of Towcester have higher than average rates of unemployment for under 24 year olds. 

SNC has a number of support activities in place to link unemployed young people with job vacancies but transport is still a key barrier.

Councillor Chris Lofts argues that ‘Young unemployed people need every help they can get to put them on the first vital step to full time employment. There are few local employers in a rural area such as South Northants even in Towcester. I have asked SNC to extend the elderly and disabled bus pass scheme to cover young unemployed residents so they can travel to low paid work experience or apprenticeships.’

Nationally Liberal Democrats have helped launch the Youth Contract as part of the coalition government’s pledge to reduce youth unemployment. The scheme opens up work experience and apprenticeships with a range of employers. Locally many of these employers are in Northampton. Young people in Towcester and across South Northants find transport costs a real problem as they eat into most of the wages they earn.

Councillor Martin Johns added, ‘We are talking about a relatively small number of people so the cost would be limited. SNC are sitting on nearly £240,000 that was supposed to be spent on youth services across the district.  They seem to prefer to keep this in the bank rather than use it to make a real difference to young unemployed people.’

‘When children leave school and look for work not every parent can provide a free taxi service, especially in these hard financial times.  SNC could, and should, help with transport costs.’ said Councillor Lisa Samiotis.

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Comments

Ian McCord

At 19:34 on 5th May 2012, Ian McCord commented:

Lib Dems call for action. Action will take place anyway. Lib Dems claim credit for work of others.

It is classic tactics from their campaigning guide.

Having read the minutes of SNC meetings recently they know that SNC want to improve the Job Club service and give extra emphasis to young people finding work. SNC are seeking money from the County Council to fund this. So the Lib Dems now call for improvements ahead of this and if SNC is successful in getting the project funded via the County Council they will claim credit for an amazing success. This is cynical campaigning at its lowest.

Had they done nothing the outcome would be the same. Success or not lies with the negotiations between SNC and NCC being led by the Leader of SNC, Cllr Mary Clarke.

To date there has not been a motion or formal request from any Lib Dem mentioned to the relevant Council group or committee asking for travel to be funded.

The money referred to in this piece, approx £240,000 is not money that SNC is sitting on, it is County Council money which SNC has to bid for to be used in the district. Again the Lib Dems either do not understand or chose to lie about the facts.

I hope that the projects SNC want to help young people in the district do get NCC approval, and welcome any constructive help to achieve this
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Ian McCord

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