News from Camden Labour

Boris leaves £4m “financial hole” in Kings Cross jobs and training schemes

A massive £4 million cut has been served on successful jobs and training schemes in the vital Kings Cross regeneration area by Tory Mayor Boris Johnson, Camden Labour reveals.

As a result of “new priorities” for the London Development Agency, budgets for Kings Cross Construction Training Centre and the Camden Working Job Brokerage, which help out-of-work residents back into the jobs market, have been removed just when people need such help the most – and in an area ready to be regenerated.

Thanks to Boris, from the end of next month the Camden taxpayer now has to step in to safeguard these vital schemes, with £4 million of extra money, roughly equivalent to 2 percent extra on council tax a year for local households.

Tory/Lib Dem-run Camden council described Boris’ plans as leaving them with the need “to fill the financial hole left by the ending of the LDA area programme in March 2009″. Labour councillors add that the schemes help the most deprived parts of south Camden and Islington and are needed as we enter recession.

The Camden Executive is due to consider a direction from Labour, Lib Dem and Tory backbench scrutiny councillors this evening (25th February) to start a campaign to reverse the cuts.

Since opening its doors in June 2004, Kings Cross Construction has registered approximately 4,000 people; more than 2,000 have gained a construction-related qualification and a further 1,000 have gained employment in the industry.

Perversely, a brand new construction centre is due to be opened on site on 23rd March. Camden taxpayers will now have to foot the entire bill for the future programme.

Labour believes that providing jobs and training for a strategic site like this should remain a London priority, and not just fall on the Camden taxpayer.

Opposition finance spokesperson Councillor Theo Blackwell said:

“Kings Cross is finally ready to be built, so it’s totally perverse that Boris Johnson is choosing this of all times to cut funding to such successful schemes serving communities in need of more jobs and skills. The Mayor should restore the funding to Kings Cross Construction immediately.”

Other news from Camden Labour

• Camden's 'flipping' developers should shock local taxpayers - 1 March 2010
• Camden wins biggest boost to council housing - 14 September 2009
• Camden Belsize Park council flats 'flipped' by developers - 1 September 2009