Brexit not a risk yet

Fails to make list

Brexit has not made a list of the top 20 risks facing South Lanarkshire Council.

However, council chiefs say they review the situation as the nation prepares to leave the European Union in March of next year.

Councillors on a risk and audit scrutiny forum will today, Wednesday, rubber-stamp the top risks facing the authority. As reported in the Reformer last November, the highest risk remains the reduction of council funding.

New to the list is the potential liability from claims of historic abuse.

Other risks include: failure to maintain required teacher/pupil ratios; fraud, organised crime and cyber attacks; increased levels of adverse weather and failure to fulfil commitments in the event of a terrorist attack.

On the subject of Brexit, a report to the forum states: “There is still a lot of uncertainty following the EU referendum in June 2016 and the council continues to monitor the position with Brexit.”

The news comes as Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey said leaving the single market could cost each person in Rutherglen and Cambuslang £2,300 each year.

Pointing to analysis carried out by the Scottish Government, she added: “The best way to protect the economy and jobs in Rutherglen is to ensure that Scotland remains within the European single market and customs union.

“This latest analysis by the Scottish Government shows just how important that is for people living in my constituency.”