Agenda item

The Leader introduced the report, the purpose of which was to provide Cabinet with an update on the preparations being undertaken by Newport City Council.

In July 2019 Cabinet was provided with an update on the Council’s preparations in the run up to the original deadline of March 2019 and the events thereafter. 

The Leader confirmed that all Councils across Wales are having to make preparations for leaving the EU on 31^st October 2019 within existing resources.

Using guidance from the WLGA, Newport Council has established a Task & Finish Group to ensure a common approach which uses the WLGA toolkit.

The Leader confirmed the Council has assessed the impacts and issues for Newport covering three broad areas:

1.    Organisation (Council’s Priorities/Governance/ Finance & Funding)

2.    Supplies & Services (Supply Chain/Core Operations/ Legal, Data and Regulatory activities)

3.    Your Place (Community Cohesion/Civil Contingencies)

In preparation, service areas are continuously monitoring and reporting updates to the Task & Finish Group which has recently been meeting every fortnight and that Group is prepared to increase the frequency of meetings in the run up to 31^st October 2019 deadline, depending upon the overall UK position.

In comparison to the initial deadline of March 2019, additional factors such as the threat of winter weather events have now had to be taken into consideration in the event of a No Deal scenario.

Officers across the Council have highlighted the following areas as being impacted and have taken appropriate measures/assurances on:

·      Food and medical supplies

·      Stability of social care providers and homes

·      ICT costs/cyber security/data protection

·      EU Settled Status Scheme (The Leader has lobbied Welsh and UK Governments to roll this out across the 22 Welsh Local Authorities); NCC’s staff are being trained to take this forward

·      Community Cohesion

·      Businesses trading with the EU

There are concerns that not all small to medium sized businesses are making the necessary preparations for a ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario.  The Council’s Economic Development team are raising awareness for businesses to make preparations and signposting them to the UK Government website and events in Wales and the South West.

The table in Appendix 1 of the report provides full details across the areas covered by the Task & Finish Group.

Civil Contingencies’ arrangements commence in October 2019 with regular updates being provided through the Gwent Local Resilience Forum and Welsh Government.  Officers from the Council will be providing support with this process.

Arrangements are being undertaken to increase information and communications to councillors, staff, residents, communities and businesses that could be affected by Brexit over the next couple of months.

The Leader welcomed comments from Cabinet colleagues in relation to the information contained in the report and sought their agreement for Cabinet to accept the contents of the report and to receive regular updates as the 31^st October 2019 deadline approaches

Cabinet colleagues welcomed the report which provides assurance to the public that work is ongoing with regard to Brexit and is well within the Council’s sights in order to limit any impact this might have.  The Cabinet Member for Community and Resources confirmed an article will appear in the next edition of Newport Matters. 

Cabinet are concerned that this work will have to continue for some time which will have staffing implications.

Cabinet was asked to:

·         Consider the contents of the report;

·         Note the Council’s Brexit Preparations;

·         And agree that Cabinet/Cabinet Members will receive updates from officers as part of their portfolio.

Decision:

Cabinet agreed the report