Decision details

Further to Minute No. 41, 27^th July 2016, the Chief Executive submitted a report providing an update on the steps that the Council, working closely with partners and other agencies, had taken since the EU Referendum in June 2016, and details the ongoing preparations being made to examine both the opportunities and the risks to the Council as a result of Brexit.

With the agreement of the Chair, the submitted report had been circulated to Board Members as a late item of business prior to the meeting for the reasons as set out in section 4.5 of the submitted report, and as detailed in Minute No. 118. 

By way of introduction to the report, the Leader and the Chief Executive highlighted the wide range of actions that were being taken as part of the preparations, which included:

·  The work of the cross-party working group which had held a number of meetings focussed on specific sectors, with the aim of ensuring that the city was in the best place to face any challenges arising from Brexit and also to be well positioned to pursue any appropriate opportunities;

·  The ongoing work undertaken with the Local Government Association with the aim of safeguarding any current grants and funding received from the EU, so that they continued to be directed to those communities for which it was meant;

·  The ongoing work relating to the promotion of community cohesion and the reassurance in this area which was being provided to the people of Leeds;

·  The Council’s offer of assistance to Council employees from the EU, in respect of EU Settlement Scheme applications - a gesture which it was noted, had been welcomed;

·  The promotion of Local Government’s key role in circumstances such as this, as a conduit between different sectors and agencies across the city to help address the needs of the city’s population;

·  The multi-agency approach being taken to prepare for potential scenarios, such as a ‘no deal’ exit from the EU and/or any potential economic downturn.

Members briefly discussed the current uncertainty regarding the preparations being made within the EU regarding any EU settlement scheme for UK citizens.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the ongoing work being undertaken to prepare the Council and the city for the UK’s exit from the European Union on 29 March 2019, be noted;

(b)  That the outline of medium term activity aimed at mitigating risks and maximising opportunities in the period immediately following the UK’s exit from the EU, be noted.

(Councillor Mulherin left the meeting at the conclusion of this item)