AN opposition councillor says the council is way behind neighbouring local authorities when it comes to creating jobs.

BIG finance spokesperson Coun Bill Gaunt said that, according to one report, job growth figures in Barnsley over five years were nine per cent while the comparative figure for Rotherham Council's area was 22 per cent.

At a regeneration scrutiny meeting at the town hall, he added: "I don't know whether it's anything to do with it but shortly after a report from One Barnsley seemed to suggest there was a growth of 17 per cent.

"We have been watching national statistics for the last two or three years and we have not really improved. We have not made the headway that Rotherham, Sheffield and Doncaster have managed. We need to provide more jobs."

Scrutiny chair Coun Dick Wraith said: "Look at the Dearne link road. That was put in by us but we didn't get the advantages, Rotherham did.

"All the jobs at Cortonwood went to Rotherham but we put the road in. It is for the people of Barnsley who travel to work."

Coun Tim Cheetham agreed there was more to be done to keep Barnsley people working in the local area.

He said: "In terms of growth within the borough, we probably can do more. We know the bulk of jobs created at Manvers fell outside the Barnsley area but are jobs for the Barnsley people nonetheless.

"There are a lot of people who live in Barnsley but work in Sheffield or Leeds. The real concern is that there are jobs there. We got the investment in the Dearne Valley Parkway which is quite positive for Barnsley people."