Report by the Director of Development & Housing Services.
4
There was submitted an update report by the Director of Development & Housing Services relative to labour market statistics for Renfrewshire, as at January 2015 and providing comparisons, where data was available, with Scottish and UK markets.
The report also included business birth and death rates as at November 2014 that showed a positive trend in Renfrewshire with more business births than deaths in every year during the period 2009/13.
The percentage of Job Seeker Allowance (JSA) claimants in Renfrewshire had fallen from 4.1% in January 2014 to 2.9% in January 2015. Youth unemployment had fallen from 7.4% in January 2014 to 4.1% currently. Since January 2014, JSA rates over all age categories had dropped substantially.
Councillor Glen, seconded by Councillor Hood, moved that the report be noted.
Councillor Andy Doig, seconded by Councillor Nicolson, moved as an amendment that the report be noted and also include that the Board notes that 100,000 small businesses across Scotland were benefitting from the Small Business Bonus Scheme introduced by the SNP Government, but that the uptake for this scheme in Paisley and Renfrewshire was below the Scottish average.
On the roll being called, the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors McGurk, Mack, Andy Doig and Nicolson.
The following members voted for the motion: Councillors J Sharkey, Glen, McCartin, Caldwell, Hood, Provost Hall and Councillors Holmes and Mullin.
4 members having voted for the amendment and 8 members having voted for the motion, the motion was accordingly declared carried.
DECIDED: That the report be noted.