Agenda item

That this Council notes with great concern recently published figures indicating the failure of the Government’s Work Programme, with only 3.53% of people enrolled on the scheme finding a job, missing the 5.5% target.

REDUCING UNEMPLOYMENT

It was moved by Councillor Chris Rosling Josephs, seconded by Councillor Terry Fox,  that this Council notes with great concern recently published figures indicating the failure of the Government’s Work Programme, with only 3.53% of people enrolled on the scheme finding a job, missing the 5.5% target.

Whereupon, it was be moved by Councillor Ian Auckland, seconded by Councillor Shaffaq Mohammed, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the substitution of the following words therefor:-

(a)       recalls the failure of the last Government to tackle the scandal of youth unemployment, with numbers rising steadily from 2004 onwards, reaching almost half a million prior to the economic crash; and

(b)       welcomes the steps the Coalition Government are taking to help and support people back into work, in particular, young people.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was negatived.

It was then moved by Councillor Leigh Bramall, seconded by Councillor Adam Hurst, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of all the words after the words “That this Council” and the substitution of the following words therefor:-

(a)       notes with great concern recently published figures indicating the failure of the Government’s Work Programme, with only 3.53% of people enrolled on the scheme finding a job, missing the 5.5% target;

(b)       is concerned about the Government’s model, which sees a number of third sector groups paid on results under pressure, leading them to  leave the Work Programme or go out of business;

(c)        notes that despite the Work Programme, long term unemployment has continued to increase year on year and is therefore concerned that this is not the best way to help reduce unemployment;

(d)       deplores the secrecy around the statistical data around the Work Programme’s success, and believes that such a policy offers little opportunity for transparency and scrutiny of the Programme and prevents actions to co-ordinate activities that would make work to reduce unemployment more effective;

(e)       expects the situation to get worse with the Government cuts to welfare, which will see tens of millions of pounds less coming into the Sheffield economy;

(f)         urges the Government to adopt innovative schemes such as the Sheffield 100 Apprenticeship Scheme to effectively reduce unemployment; and

(g)       urges the Government to immediately review the Work Programme model and take urgent action to boost the economy and create more jobs such as adopting Labour’s five point plan for jobs and growth.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-

RESOLVED:  That this Council:-

(a)       notes with great concern recently published figures indicating the failure of the Government’s Work Programme, with only 3.53% of people enrolled on the scheme finding a job, missing the 5.5% target;

(b)       is concerned about the Government’s model, which sees a number of third sector groups paid on results under pressure, leading them to  leave the Work Programme or go out of business;

(c)        notes that despite the Work Programme, long term unemployment has continued to increase year on year and is therefore concerned that this is not the best way to help reduce unemployment;

(d)       deplores the secrecy around the statistical data around the Work Programme’s success, and believes that such a policy offers little opportunity for transparency and scrutiny of the Programme and prevents actions to co-ordinate activities that would make work to reduce unemployment more effective;

(e)       expects the situation to get worse with the Government cuts to welfare, which will see tens of millions of pounds less coming into the Sheffield economy;

(f)         urges the Government to adopt innovative schemes such as the Sheffield 100 Apprenticeship Scheme to effectively reduce unemployment; and

(g)       urges the Government to immediately review the Work Programme model and take urgent action to boost the economy and create more jobs such as adopting Labour’s five point plan for jobs and growth.