THERE are fears unemployed people’s job prospects are being hampered as the DWP is ‘dragging its heels’ on a project to help people back into work.

Working Matters, part of the £1bn City Deal for the Glasgow region, is designed to ensure thousands of unemployed people are given the training and support needed to access the jobs the city deal projects will create.

It is hoped that several hundred out of work people will get jobs through the programme.

However, councillors and officials are frustrated at a lack of sufficient numbers of clients being referred by the DWP through Jobcentres.

The project is the only City Deal project given a red warning status in a traffic light evaluation system, meaning delivery of the project “appears unachievable”.

The City Deal will provide capital funding for 20 major infrastructure projects including building bridges, improving roads and pavements in town and city centres and paving the way for further developments.

The projects include work at Cowlairs, Sighthill and Speirs Wharf in Glasgow including bridges over the railway and the M8.

Improving public realm in the Barras area to attract new businesses and strengthening quay walls along the River Clyde to facilitate developments.

Concern over the the progress of the project was discussed at a meeting of the City Region Cabinet in Glasgow.

Kevin Rush, City Region director of economic growth told the cabinet: “We are working with DWP on referrals. It is red because we have seen a drop in referrals from the DWP.

“We have asked for details of guidance given to work coaches.”

Working Matters is targeted at people in receipt of Employment Support Allowance. It aims to reach 4,000 people, assisting at least 600 into sustained work.

A source within one of the eight city region councils said there is a feeling the DWP is dragging its heels but no-one knows why.

It is believed that the referrals from Jobcentres have fallen short by around 75 per month making targets

A spokeswoman for the Glasgow City Region said: “Working Matters aims to deliver targeted employment support to people referred to the project by the DWP.

“To achieve the project’s target this will require 375 client referrals from the DWP each month.

“We have been working closely with the DWP to increase the number of clients coming through and we will be meeting them again at the end of the month to discuss this.”

Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “If we are serious about the City Deal and taking forward inclusive economic growth, that support to help people access jobs is crucial. We will be looking to the DWP to step up.”

A spokesman for the DWP said: “We continue to work closely with local authorities on the improvement plan to refer eligible people to the Working Matters programme.”