Cuts to Falkirk Council's employment and training unit the 'least bad option'

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Falkirk Council has agreed to cut nearly £500,000 from its employment and training unit budget over the next four years, with changes that include reducing incentives given to employers for recruitment.

The proposal was agreed by members of Falkirk Council at a meeting of its executive on Tuesday. Councillors from all parties praised the work done by the ETU, which has 43 members of staff who help around 1200 local people every year overcome barriers to employment. Read more: Twelve community councils still to be formed after second elections They focus on young people and the long-term unemployed in particular and the figure includes supporting 400 people who are "furthest from the Labour market".Members heard that, with a budget gap of £67 million in the next five years cuts would be necessary.Michael McGuinness, head of growth, planning and climate change, said: "In this difficult financial climate where we have to make some savings, we believe that a wage subsidy for the employers is the most appropriate area to make the savings."Following the decision, Employer Recruitment Incentives will be cut by £332,610, and commissioned training and support provision programmes by £67,000.The report details that support will continue for some employers but with a reduced level of funding from the council.Members heard that funding for ETU is very complex and it works with eight different contracts on 10 different programmes.Mr McGuinness said it was important to note that the decision would not affect the amount of external funding the unit gets, which has ranged from £1.7 million to £3 million over the past few years.The report was accepted by all members of the council although the Labour group leader Anne Hannah described