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Dear colleagues,
As our work continues to get the best outcomes for our sector from Brexit, and despite the uncertainty and gaps in information, communities and councils have all been working very hard to prepare as best we can for many different possibilities. In addition to our longer term agenda on EU funding, workforce issues, and shaping post-Brexit Britain, our immediate focus has been on ‘no deal’ as Government has ramped up their own no deal preparations. However, much of this work will also be relevant in the case of an agreed deal.
This newsletter will inform you about what info is available, what work the LGA has done on your behalf and a reminder of what our longer term agenda is for post-Brexit local government.
Yours sincerely
Cllr Kevin Bentley
Chairman of the LGA Brexit Task Force |
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Resource hubs
We have been successful with our urging that the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) launch a resource hub pulling together all the guidance and communications for local government. This sits alongside a broader Government hub for citizens and organisations.
Last week saw the announcement from the Secretary of State for MHCLG, The Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP, of Brexit funding for local government. The ministerial statement outlines details of the £56.5 million that has been made available for council preparations, including £20 million for this financial year. This is an important example of how Government has listened to the needs of councils and addressing our calls for some of the funding to be available this year shows the commitment that James has for local government and the important role we play. Additionally, the Government has confirmed that any additional responsibilities resulting in new financial pressures for councils arising from Brexit will be fully funded. Council chief executives will have received a letter from MHCLG with further details of the funding arrangements and expectations.
The EU settlement scheme is the mechanism by which non-UK EU citizens register with the Home Office to remain in the UK after the end of the withdrawal transition period. The scheme has undergone several pilots and is now going through a public pilot phase. Information has been sent out to Directors of Children’s Services as councils will have responsibility over completing applications for looked after children. The LGA is working with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and the Home Office to push for clear communications to councils about their responsibilities for vulnerable adults.
No Deal
Following LGA lobbying, the UK Government announced the aim to protect citizens' rights in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal. This week they have laid down some of the detail by which that will happen.
Local authority toolkit
The Home Office published a toolkit for councils and community leaders containing briefing materials on EU Settled Status. These resources are designed to help you raise awareness of the scheme to your communities who may approach their local authority for information.
After pressing for guidance from Government on your behalf, we received further clarification on election eligibility for EU Citizens living in the UK. It is the UK Government’s intention that voting eligibility will not change for the May 2019 elections, and that candidates who are validly nominated and elected at or before the May 2019 local elections in England and Northern Ireland should be able to serve that term of office in full. We will continue to work with Government to understand their intent on this issue post May 2019, and, in the case of an extension to Article 50, we have raised with them the need for clear guidance on the European 2019 elections.
In our June 2018 Conference Report: Brexit, Moving the Conversation On we set out our vision of what post-Brexit Britain could look like, setting out some of the opportunities and risks for local government to address. Brexit provides the opportunity for devolution and a fundamental change for how decisions are made in Britain. Local government also has a lot to contribute to securing ambitious future trading relationships and deals which benefit local communities.
Trade
We continue to engage with Parliament on your behalf to make the case for local government’s role in post-Brexit decision-making, including trade. As part of my role as Chairman of the LGA Brexit Taskforce, I appeared before the Commons International Trade Committee alongside Cllr Philip Atkins OBE, Leader of Staffordshire County Council. I explained to MPs that the Government must continue to consult with the LGA, WLGA, NILGA and COSLA once we leave the EU, and that local government’s role in the UK’s future trade negotiations should be formalised.
The Select Committee’s report, published on 28 December, was very positive about the role that councils could play and the proactive contribution we could make to the UK’s International Trade policy. It suggested a key role for councils on a new Strategic Trade Advisory Group, argued that local government should have a voice in all aspects of the trade policy process and that the Government, in its response to this report, should set out how it plans to facilitate this.
EU funds
The Government has secured the UK’s participation in EU Funding programmes (ESIF) until 2020, something the LGA had called for. They have also committed to a domestic fund, the UK SPF, post 2020. We have said this should be a localised, place based fund that is at least equal in quantum to ESIF. We continue to raise concerns with Government about the delays in the consultation for UK SPF and the impact this will have on councils’ ability to plan.
We have secured guarantees from Government for EU-funded projects to the end of 2020 in the case of a no deal, but there is still a lack of detail of how this will operate. We will continue to use our position on the Growth Programme Board to obtain more details as and when it becomes available.
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