Training Places Boosted by Labour Led Falkirk Council

�� LABOUR-led�� Falkirk Council has � unemployment�� is a real concern and we � ��Cllr Martin said: “Helping young people� �� thrown�� a lifeline to the district’s � want�� to do all we can to help. Our extra � ��gain a foothold on to the labour market� has �� young�� people. � money�� will target up to 80 young people � ��long been a priority for Falkirk Council’s � ��In its budget for the next year, the � in�� the 20-24 age range. We’re also working� ��Employment and Training Unit (ETU). With� Council�� is spending an extra £850,000 to � with�� Forth Valley College to target a further� ��the under 25 age group currently quoted � boost�� its efforts to help more people get 220�� young people to improve their skills � ��as the worst affected by the recession it’s� into�� work and training. � and�� make them ready for the world of work. ��good to know that we are achieving a high� ��The new money will increase the � That’s�� additional support for 300 people.”� ��level of success, none of which would� have numbers�� of young trainees the Council ��The Council’s award-winning � ��been possible without the support of local� supports�� to just under 1000 in the next� Employment�� and Training Unit will co- � ��employers, working in partnership with the year.�� ordinate�� the support, in association with a ��ETU.” To find out more,� visit ��Council leader Craig Martin said: “Rising range�� of public and private sector partners. � ��www.falkirk.gov.uk/backingfalkirksfuture Bid to protect frontline services from public sector cuts Labour’s plan to create BUDGET TO HELP 5000 jobs AROUND 5000 jobs could be created if COMMUNITIES Labour’s plans for massive investment in THE LABOUR leader of Falkirk Council says his rather than the question of jobs, or eradicating Falkirk district are realised. team has worked hard to protect communities poverty.” He added: “Our priority isn’t to talk from cuts. about referendums, but to talk about how we help It wants to use a new fi nancing system Cllr Craig Martin said senior councillors those most in need. We have placed additional called “TIF” to pump cash into new roads have worked to identify backroom savings and resources in key areas such as tackling youth and infrastructure in the area. If approved, effi ciencies, against a backdrop of “real terms” unemployment and increasing employability skills Labour-led Falkirk Council would be able reductions in grant from the SNP Government in of young people, improving roads, expanding our to keep extra rates cash generated by Holyrood. The vast bulk of local authority funding welfare advice service and enhancing early years’ new inward investment (usually paid to comes via the Scottish Parliament. education. Cllr Martin said: “In councils similar to Falkirk, “School meals and meals on wheels charges the Scottish Government) to help fi nance we’ve seen the SNP slash teacher numbers and are also being frozen and we are abolishing the improvements. propose the privatisation of care homes and pest control charges for households. We are The Council’s schools. continually looking at reducing costs across economic strategy “In Falkirk district, we’ve had to make the Council – but at the same time protecting and development tough choices, but we’ve had no compulsory frontline services and jobs. Labour is committed convener, Labour’s redundancies and no closures of public facilities. to doing the best it can for local communities, not Adrian Mahoney, said: That’s something we’re proud of.” dancing to the tune set by the SNP Government.” “Falkirk district is the Unveiling the Council’s £344 million revenue economic powerhouse budget for the coming year, Mr Martin said the of Scotland. A huge Council had been forced to make £8 million of SNP squeeze amount of potential cuts to deliver the SNP’s Council Tax freeze. for development Ministers had threatened that any council trying to break the freeze would lose even more exists to grow key on Councils money. Labour has called the move “blackmail”. sectors such as chemicals, manufacturing Cllr Martin said the Council’s focus on the LABOUR local’s government spokeswoman, Sarah and logistics. But we need better roads and coming year would be to help the most vulnerable Boyack MSP, says the SNP are putting a squeeze infrastructure to help us to do this. The TIF in society, putting extra resources into helping on Scottish councils. model is a great way to lever in public and unemployed people and recruiting welfare Speaking in the Scottish Parliament she said: private sector investment, to help grow advisers. New “nurture groups” will also be set up “In its {Holyrood} budget, the SNP has allocated our business base – and to make the area in schools with a high percentage of vulnerable council cuts that are twice the level of the cuts that more attractive to industry. We think we children. And an extra £500,000 will go into the Scottish Government has received from the can create 5000 local jobs through this improving local roads - including moves to reduce United Kingdom Tory Government. initiative.” potholes. “That will mean a squeeze on local services, job There will also be cash to make community losses and increased charges for services, which enhancements. Labour plugged spending gaps will impact particularly hard on people on low or by implementing effi ciencies and calling on modest incomes. As councils throughout Scotland Best possible start “prudent” levels of Council reserves. set their budgets and as local people look at the Cllr Martin said: “Last July Alex Salmond small print and hold them to account for their fl itted around from TV studio to radio broadcast priorities, we should let them know that the LABOUR has worked hard to ensure that down south demanding that the UK Government squeeze on local government services was made in children and young people across Falkirk introduce his so called ‘Plan McB’. Now, with Scotland by the SNP. The SNP Government took District can get the best possible start in the worst unemployment fi gures - above the a cut from the UK Tory Government, doubled it life: through increased childcare places, UK average - and a damning report on child and then passed it on to councils.” improved attainment at school and new poverty in Scotland, all the appearances in front school buildings. We’ve invested extra of camera are about the referendum question, Find out more: visit www.scottishlabour.org.uk money into improving parks and play equipment - and attracted external support QUOTE to roll out new multi-use games areas (or MUGAs) in every ward of the Council area. ‘We are continually looking at reducing costs Caring for you across the Council - but at the same time LABOUR-led Falkirk Council provides good protecting frontline services and jobs . quality care to almost 2000 people at home. Although the economic climate has Labour is committed to doing the best it can been tough, the Council has continued to deliver increased hours of care in the evenings and weekends. for local communities, not dancing to Charges for care services have been kept low (the Council charges some of the the tune set by the SNP government.’ lowest fees in Scotland). CLLR CRAIG MARTIN, LABOUR LEADER OF FALKIRK COUNCIL ELECTION SPECIAL . CANDIDATES IN DETAIL We profi le Scottish Labour’s 16 men and women who will be fi ghting for your votes in the Falkirk Council elections on May 3, 2012. WARD 1 - BO’NESS AND BLACKNESS NAME: David Aitchison LABOUR’S TEAM ADDRESS: 6 Douglas Place, Bo’ness AGE: 44 FAMILY: Single FOR MAY 3 POLL BIOGRAPHY: David has lived in Bo’ness all his life. He attended Kinneil Primary NAME: Adrian Mahoney ADRIAN SAYS: “I’ve been proud to represent and Bo’ness Academy, leaving in 1984 to work at ADDRESS: 5 Craigallan Park, Bo’ness and Blackness since 2007. I’m very Smith Packaging. Bo’ness active in my community and roll up my sleeves AGE: 43 and get involved in trying to improve people’s After studying

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