Halton handed £200k for Brexit preparation

MORE than £200,000 has been made available to Halton Borough Council from the Government to cover additional costs arising from the UK leaving the European Union (EU) – though it remains to be seen if this would be enough.

The country is due to leave the EU on October 31.

Resilience planning work is taking place in Runcorn and Widnes regarding whether the UK leaves the social, political and economic union with or without a deal in place.

A report prepared for councillors on the executive board said planning for the scenario is ‘unprecedented’ but that it is important the local authority has arrangements in place to ‘respond to whatever situations arise’.

The Ministry Of Housing, Communities And Local Government (MHCLG) has shared technical notices to offer advice for several sectors across the economy.

A Cheshire-wide response to any issues will also be co-ordinated by groups belonging to the Cheshire Resilience Forum (CRF) and includes the police and fire service.

An appendix to the report for councillors said this included minimising disruption in the county relating to delays at ports for goods deliveries, the road network, the delivery of health and social care provision, and working with utilities companies to minimise any disruption to supply.

Risk assessments for the county are being produced on a weekly basis and sent to the MHCLG, and a workshop designed to test business continuity plans in the event of a no deal Brexit.

It focused on potential short, medium and long term impacts on issues such as public order, critical supply chain failure, transport disruption and mutual aid requests.

A report was produced, which includes the capabilities and steps ‘which may be required to adapt to a no deal scenario’.

The local authority’s Corporate Resilience Group is also currently meeting on a monthly basis with the aim to discuss the potential impact and management of Brexit.

Within the borough’s Emergency Planning portal for Brexit information, weekly emails are sent out to council officers to ensure they are kept up to date.

But the report said the council could face ‘serious resource implications’ from any predicted increase in costs of goods arriving from the EU following a no deal Brexit.

It raises concerns as to whether the £210,000 grants available from the Government to cover increased costs would be enough.

The document said: “Given the council’s current financial predicament, any increase in costs is going to put further pressure on the council’s already under pressure budgets.

“The Government has made two one-off grants of £105,000 (£210,000) available to the council to cover any additional costs arising from the UK leaving the EU.

“It will remain to see if this proves to be enough.

“There are clearly potential risks to the local authority of a no-deal Brexit.

“However, it is difficult to quantify these with any certainty at this time.

“The council will work closely with the LRF to mitigate those risks if and when they arise and will rely on its own business continuity plans to do what it can to reduce any impacts on the Halton community.”