Agenda item

The Leader presented the report that provided Cabinet with an update on the Brexit preparations being undertaken by the Council and confirmed it is a follow up to the report that was presented to Cabinet in October 2019.

The report confirmed that on 31^st January the UK formally left the European Union and has entered into an 11-month Transition Period.

It is anticipated that there will be no significant changes to how businesses in Newport/UK trade with the EU or in relation to the movement of people between the EU and the UK and the way in which services are delivered in the Council.

It will be important that the Welsh Government, Welsh Local Government Association and councils have their voices heard on the potential opportunities, risks and impacts to businesses and residents living in Newport and Wales.

The UK has until 1^st July 2020 to extend the transition period beyond the 31^st December 2020 (there is the potential to extend this up to 31^st December 2022).  However, at this stage the UK Government have stated that they will not look to extend the deadline beyond this year.

If no trade deal is agreed and in place by the end of 2020, the UK will have to fall back on World Trade Organisation terms and will result in a No-deal Brexit.  

The Leader confirmed the Council’s officers continue to monitor the potential risks and impacts on the delivery of services in Newport through the Officer Brexit Task & Finish Group led by the Director of Place.

Cabinet Members and Officers from the Task & Finish Group are also representing the Council at Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), Welsh Government (WG) and other pan-Wales/regional meetings on Brexit.

The Council’s Brexit risk continues to be monitored through the Council’s Corporate Risk Register which is reported to Cabinet and Audit Committee every quarter.  

Since the last report, the following activities have been undertaken by the Council:

The Council’s Registrar Service has launched an ID verification service to support EU Settled Status (EUSS) applications.

o  Home Office figures (September 2019) show that 2,290 EUSS applications had been concluded for EU residents in Newport.

o  The Council are co-ordinating a weekly drop in provision for EU Nationals in partnership with all voluntary sector services funded to support applications to the EUSS.

In December 2019 the Council received £80k Food Poverty Grant from the WLGA/Welsh Governmentto help tackle food related poverty that may be caused as a result of Brexit. 

o  This funding will be used to target areas of need through the Council’s Hubs and will also be available to local charities, third sector organisations and community groups to make bids for funding to enable them to deliver their initiatives and provide long term benefits to the city.

The Council received £45k through the WLGA for the Homelessness Prevention Grant Programmewhich will enable the Council to develop a Welcome to Newport App for migrants wishing to access information about Newport, maintain secure tenancies, to provide Homeless Information Cards that will enable homeless migrants on where and how to access local services, and deliver training to staff to support the homeless that have no recourse to public funds.

The Council’s Economic Development team have been engaging with local businesses in Newport and assisting them to access Brexit related information and guidance.

Communication arrangements to provide information to councillors, staff, residents, communities and businesses that could be affected by Brexit will continue throughout 2020 alongside regular Cabinet reports.

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

The Leader welcomed comments from her Cabinet colleagues.

Councillor Truman mentioned Newport is a very busy Port Authority and it is important to get the best deal possible for companies that trade with Europe.

The report sought Cabinet’s agreement to accept the contents of the report and to receive regular updates as progress is made through the transition period.

Decision:

Cabinet agreed to accept the report and for Cabinet/Cabinet Members to receive updates from officers as part of their portfolio.