Mr Jenrick thanked councils for all the work
they have already done, but said they must step
up vital preparations and committed £20 million for
councils across England to prepare for delivering Brexit
on 31 October, whatever the
circumstances.
He has asked each council to designate a Brexit lead to
work with central government and oversee teams in every
community who will work with stakeholders in their area
to plan intensively for Brexit.
The new funding comes in recognition of the central role
councils will play to make sure their residents are ready
for Brexit, and is expected to support a range
of activity including communications, training and the
recruitment of staff.
Mr Jenrick will continue to talk to local
council leaders to give them the opportunity to discuss
preparations and the opportunities of Brexit
ahead.
Communities and Local Government Secretary Rt Hon
Robert Jenrick MP said:
From Whitehall to town halls – everyone needs to be
ready to fulfil our democratic mandate to leave the
European Union by the end of October.
Local government has a vital role in helping to make
Brexit a success and it is absolutely right that
together we intensify preparations in every community.
And to do this successfully I have asked every council
to appoint a Brexit lead to work with government. We’ll
be providing £20 million for councils to support the
major step up in preparations.
I want all of us – central and local government – to be
fully prepared for leaving the EU on 31 October
whatever the circumstances. I know that we can achieve
this, by continuing to work side by side with renewed
national focus and intensity.
The government recognises that certain areas face more
acute pressures. It is currently considering how best to
allocate funding to ensure that those areas where greater
impacts are expected, such as high impact ports of entry,
get the funding they need in order take appropriate
steps.
At his first meeting with senior leaders from local
authorities since becoming the Communities and Local
Government Secretary earlier this week,
Mr Jenrick told representatives that the
government will support them to ensure they are ready to
leave the EU in just under 90 days’ time.
Departments will continue to assess and, if appropriate,
fund any potential new requirements of local authorities
as part of Brexit work they are
undertaking.
In January the government committed £58 million of
funding to support local authorities in their
preparations for Brexit.
