Liverpool council takes reins on Youth Contract delivery
Neil Puffett
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Liverpool has become the first council to be handed devolved powers from government under the City Deals programme in an arrangement that will see the authority responsible for the delivery and design of the Youth Contract in the area.
Under the programme, cities will be able to specify the particular powers they need to meet local needs and priorities rather than being presented with a set menu of measures decided in Whitehall.
Besides powers to design the local Youth Contract, Liverpool will also get greater control over land for redevelopment, helping it to build 12 secondary schools.
Under the government’s three-year Youth Contract, wage subsidies will be provided to employers to get 160,000 young people into paid work and 250,000 new work experience placements will be created.
In addition, there will be at least 20,000 more incentive payments to encourage employers to take on young apprentices.
The devolved powers are likely to afford Liverpool greater say over how the scheme is run and the mix of provision in the city although a council spokesman said the details are yet to be worked out.
Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg said: "This first city deal heralds an unprecedented transfer of power from central government to local communities, with new powers and funding for Liverpool to do things its own way.
"I congratulate Liverpool on blazing a trail we look forward to seeing others follow. I firmly believe one size doesn't fit all - whether it's a mayor or whether it is a council leader, what cities have to show in return for a City Deal is that there is strong clear leadership.
"This deal puts Liverpool back in the driving seat to create jobs and boost skills with greater economic and political freedom."
