Laura Sharman 12 December 2014

Councils should keep savings from tackling poverty says report

A new report is calling for local authorities to be allowed to keep any savings made from tackling poverty and unemployment in their area.

The recommendation has been made as new figures from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) show that councils only receive 7p from every £1 saved by moving someone from unemployment into a job that pays the Living Wage. The report says financial incentives would encourage councils to help more people find jobs that pay a decent wage.

The report, The benefits of tackling worklessness and low pay, says local strategies such as welfare-to-work schemes and more affordable childcare would help address poverty at a local level.

Paul Bivand from the Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion (CESI), who calculated the figures, said: ‘There is an increasing consensus cities and counties should play a greater role in stimulating growth and making sure their unemployed and low paid residents benefit. Cities and counties have no clear incentive to tackle worklessness and low pay in their areas because most of the gains go to national government.

‘Successful local initiatives could be rewarded by local areas keeping benefit savings – creating an incentive to invest more resources, time and energy in promoting inclusive economic growth.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Director of Children’s Services (DCS)

Swindon Borough Council
£129,000
Be the DCS you always wanted to be. Swindon, Wiltshire
Recuriter: Swindon Borough Council

Family Support Worker - Disabled Children's Service

Oxfordshire County Council
£30559 - £36124
About Us The Children's Disability Team in the North are seeking to recruit a Family Support Worker to join their service. The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic worker who is passionate about improving outcomes for Disabled children and young Banbury
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Prestige Gardener

Wakefield Council
£27,711.00 - £30,559.00, Grade 6, 37 hours, Permanent
An opportunity exists in the Council’s Street Scene Services for a Prestige Gardener Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Residential Supervisor x 3 - WMF2163e

Westmorland and Furness Council
£38,220 - £39,152 (pro rata for part time hours)
Our team at Elmhurst are looking for a motivated, friendly, and hard-working individual to join us as a supervisor. Ulverston, Cumbria
Recuriter: Westmorland and Furness Council

ICT Systems and Data Engineer WMF2171e

Westmorland and Furness Council
£42,839 - £44,075
As an ICT Systems and Data Engineer at Westmorland and Furness Council Cumbria / Various
Recuriter: Westmorland and Furness Council
Linkedin Banner