Emergency school meal menus, stockpiling fuel and more money - how Bracknell Forest Council is preparing for Brexit

Leader Paul Bettison was quizzed by Labour councillor Mary Temperton about how Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) is preparing for the UK’s departure from the EU at the council’s budget meeting on Wednesday, February 27.

With the UK set to leave in just more than a month’s time, a deal is still yet to be agreed with the EU and there is uncertainty with regards to when the UK will leave, should the government choose to extend the scheduled departure date past March 29. 

Cllr Bettison said the government’s £210,000 grant to BFC to prepare for a No Deal Brexit was “scant consolation” for the uncertainty of how and when the UK leaves the EU.

He said: “I, like most people I speak to, thought that with 30 days to go until the UK exits the EU, would have known for some time on what terms the exit would be so that effective plans would have been made in an environment of some certainty. 

“But sadly, as we all know, this is not the case.”

Cllr Bettison now outlining other work being done to prepare for Brexit, saying the council has been in contact with key service providers, social care providers and other companies to plan for what is to come. He adds "we are not complacent".

— Ollie Sirrell (@OllieSirrellLDR) February 27, 2019

The leader went on to highlight what preparations the council is making for Brexit, as well as outlining how some areas could be impacted by the UK’s leaving. 

Supplies

“In terms of supplies, we are in contact through the local resilience forum on the potential arrangements should food, fuel, medication or chemicals become in short supply. In terms of fuel our main focus would be on making sure we are undertaking statutory duties including those associated with social care visits, waste collection and waste collection contractors to operate the bin lorries for us. 

“Suez (the council's waste collectors) plan to keep their fuel supplies high during March in preparation for the departure date. There’s also a national plan for Thames Valley, which has allocated a specific number of fuelling stations for priority services. 

“A further potential risk relates to catering contractors for schools if they are not able to access ingredients for their regular menu. This could also have an implication for children with special diets, and for children on free school meals. We have been in discussion with our main school meal provider, ISS, who has developed an emergency menu which has more readily available local food within it.” 

Economy and finance

“In terms of business and the economy, the council is not currently involved in any funding bids that would be affected by Brexit. In terms of council finances, we will clearly be in the same position as all other councils, in that the national local financial settlements may be impacted by Brexit, depending on the actual impact that Brexit has on this country’s economy. It is possible there may be additional costs or tariffs on the items BFC purchases, such as health and social care equipment. At this stage we can do little until the outcome and indeed the date of leaving the EU is absolutely known. 

“However, the budget that we agreed tonight, includes a £2.5m contingency, which is higher than we might have had were we not in the position in which we find ourselves.”

Workforce

“In terms of workforce issues, we’ve been in discussion with our key service providers, this includes Suez and Ringway, both of which happen to be French companies, and social care providers with whom we have five or more placements. It’s not anticipated by any of these companies that there will be any significant implications for their workforces beyond their existing pressures. We are not complacent though, as 13 per cent of this workforce, with our principal social care providers, are non-UK EU nationals, which is almost double the national average. 

“In terms of population issues, Brexit could result in skill losses across the borough, if EU nationals decide not to remain here. This is not something that the council can significantly influence. In the event of No Deal, professionals with EU, EEA, EFTA and Swiss teaching qualifications will not be recognised as UK qualified teacher status. This doesn’t affect EU citizens who have already had their qualifications recognised. The government intends to find an alternative recognition system but this has not yet been published. As a council, we can only wait and watch.”
Data

“We’ve looked at data issues and taken advice because we do use a number of IT applications that are hosted within the EU. However, there’s unlikely to be any immediate effect because of a degree of alignment between the UK and the EU’s data protection regimes.”

Elections

“In terms of voting, our focus is on the borough for the 2nd of May. But should Brexit not take place before the last date in which EU elections are due to take place, we may need to make arrangements for such an election. However, it is more likely that the government would extend the term of existing MEPs so we’re making no specific plans for that at present. The fact that we would normally have to deliver a full general election within a 3-4 week time scale from a standing start, suggests that that risk can safely be taken.”

He says Brexit could result in skill losses across the borough if EU residents decide to leave once the UK withdraws from the EU.

— Ollie Sirrell (@OllieSirrellLDR) February 27, 2019

At the end of his speech, Cllr Bettison said the preparations discussed were “only a flavour” of what was being planned, before adding that he hoped work being done by the council’s corporate management team and senior leaders to prepare for No Deal “will prove to be unnecessary”.

Cllr Mary Temperton thanked the leader for his answer, claiming that she had been asked several times by residents what the council was doing to prepare for the UK’s departure. 

Earlier in the meeting, Cllr Peter Heydon, the executive member for transformation and finance, said before setting out the council’s budget: “It seems that every year at this time we discuss in the council chamber the challenge of setting a balanced budget for the coming year, in a changing local and national context. 

“This year is no different and I will talk about the specific challenges for 2019/20 shortly.   

“Another important difference, which is rather more sobering, is the national economic context.  We are not here tonight to debate Brexit, but as a council, we cannot ignore the unprecedented level of uncertainty that the United Kingdom faces at this time.   

“Our final budget proposals for next year have regard to this.  

“In the meantime, work is ongoing both in Bracknell Forest and across the country to assess and respond to the potential impact of the different scenarios that are still possible, a mere 30 days from the Article 50 deadline.   

“Despite the national uncertainty, this Council remains determined to take positive action to ensure that Bracknell Forest becomes an even better place to live and work. In fact, I would argue that this has never been more important.”