Fears for council
Council’s £12m EU funding ‘True ramifications’hitting home MSP calls on council to make Brexit-readiness plan public
More than £12 million of European Union funding supports projects run by South Lanarkshire Council – with huge uncertainty over what the future holds after Brexit.
The figure emerged as part of a Freedom of Information (FoI) request submitted by the News.
South Lanarkshire was successful in securing £12.781m of funding for projects between 2016 and 2020 – with EU funding representing 40 per cent of the total costs.
The three main projects included in overall funding are, according to a council report, the Employability Initiative, Youth Employment Initiative and Leader.
The UK Government has said it will guarantee funding for programmes which receive EU funding until the end of 2020.
But the situation is not clear beyond then with the FoI stating that “confirmed allocations have not yet been made” for EU funding for the 2019 to 2023 period.
When the UK leaves the EU, these projects will not receive funding from Brussels. Decisions will then be up to the UK Government of the day.
The FoI response said the council would not release information on any impact register outlining the risks and benefits associated with Brexit as it is still in draft form and subject to revisal, with no information held on any commissioned studies relating to the impact on the council of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
East Kilbride, Strahaven and Lesmahagow SNP MP Dr Lisa Cameron believes the “true ramifications” of Brexit have come sharply into view.
She said: “It is a significant concern for our constituency that Brexit could impact upon £12.781m of funding for projects across South Lanarkshire 2016 to 2020 and halt future bids for further funding, particularly as our constituency voted overwhelmingly against Brexit.
“I thank the East Kilbride News for
raising this and will be submitting written questions to government.
“It is vital now that all levels of government work together to ensure local funding and jobs and livelihoods are protected as the true ramifications of Brexit rather than the ‘fake news’ on the side of the bus begin to hit home”.
Central Scotland Labour MSP Monica Lennon told the News it is vital the council undertake work to finalise Brexit-readiness plans and share it with the people of South Lanarkshire.
“It is vitally important that South Lanarkshire Council ensures it is taking adequate steps to prepare for Brexit,” she said. “With reportedly over £12.7 million of EU funding invested in council projects until 2020, I am concerned about future funding for projects in South Lanarkshire.
“The East Kilbride News has rightfully asked questions but the FoI response appears to indicate that the council have not commissioned any in-depth studies about the impact of Brexit, and are not in a position to disclose advice to the public.
“I expect South Lanarkshire Council to undertake urgent work to finalise their Brexit-readiness plan and share this with people in South Lanarkshire.”
East Kilbride SNP MSP Linda Fabiani said the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) has been working on contingency plans on behalf of members and has told the UK Government to step up.
Ms Fabiani said: “I understand that the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), along with, and on behalf of their membership local authorities, has been carrying out much work, including contingency planning, on the implications of Brexit.
“This was begun immediately after the Brexit referendum in 2016 so I am pleased that one of the first acts of the SNP administration which took over South Lanarkshire Council in 2017 was to rejoin COSLA.
“Brexit will affect every single local authority and I know that the Scottish Government continues to work with local authorities and COSLA so we are all prepared as far as possible.
“It is time the UK Government made the same commitment.”