‘Secret’ city report on impact of leaving EU will not be published

COUNCIL bosses have finally vowed to publish a report assessing the impact of Brexit on Birmingham – but not the ‘secret’ one which was shelved two years ago.

The council has made a final ruling stating it would not be in the public interest to release the original document which was drafted prior to referendum in 2016 exploring the implications of a leave vote for the city.

The authority declared the position had ‘significantly moved on’ and described the report as ‘obsolete’.

However, with the UK set to formally leave the European Union in less than 12 months, the council has now pledged to produce an updated impact assessment, alongside the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), businesses and academics, which will be published at a later date.

Both opposition group leaders Cllrs Rob Alden (Cons) and Jon Hunt (Lib Dems) have also probed the Labour-run council on the issue.

The report was produced by the council’s European and International Affairs team but former chief executive Mark Rogers made the decision not to release it in case it influenced the public vote. But it never progressed further than a draft stage and was shelved.

The council has since twice declined a Freedom of Information request for its release stating it would ‘prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs’.

After a challenge to the initial decision, council lawyers have since applied a ‘public interest test’.

The latest response said: “The council recognises that there are significant public interest arguments in favour of disclosure, including the general presumption of openness underlying the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) and that the public deserve the full facts on Brexit. The council also recognises there are significant countervailing arguments against disclosure, including the obsolete nature of the draft Brexit report and the council would caution that this unfinished draft background report from before the referendum is not disclosed as it would not be in the public interest.

“Furthermore, the position now significantly moved on.

“The result of the referendum was to leave the EU and the council are now working with the combined authority, businesses, academics and other partners to assess the implications of Brexit.

“Once the full implications become known the council will no doubt require further analysis on what it will mean for Birmingham and the wider region.” has