Moves to support young people into work were dealt another blow last week when Liberal Democrat and Green Party councillors joined forces to scupper a Labour budget proposal to bolster training and apprenticeships offered by the council.

Labour has for some time been pressing the council to do more on apprenticeships for young people at the council, after it was revealed that the local authority had only 21 placements in a workforce of over 7000 staff. Coun. Julie Gunnell, said:

"I found it unbelievable that the Liberal Democrat budget could propose further cuts to what they offer young people in the way of work experience and training.

"I was similarly disappointed that the Green party supported the Lib Dems' proposals for further reductions to the few traineeships available. They were willing to play politics in a way which will not help young people desperately looking for apprenticeships.

"This time, more than any other in recent memory, is when we should be putting in place arrangements to help young unemployed young people in this city, who deserve better. They are stakeholders and deserve to be supported in getting into work, and the local council should be involved in helping young people.

"In this authority we have only 5% of staff under 25 years of age. The Green Party has wasted an opportunity to make a meaningful difference to young people by supporting our proposals on apprentice and trainee places in the council".