The impact of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and the role local
authorities could play post-Brexit is to be examined by MPs.
The Communities and Local Government Committee’s Brexit and Local
Government inquiry will look at which powers currently held by
the EU could be transferred to town halls after the UK’s exit.
The Committee’s work will also examine the risks and
opportunities posed by Brexit and how local government is engaged
in the Brexit negotiations.
, Chair of the Communities and
Local Government Committee, said: “The previous
Secretary of State said last year that local government must be
represented in the negotiations on the terms of the UK’s exit
from the EU, but the role of local authorities post-Brexit is
still unclear.
We hope our inquiry will help to clarify what the best
possible outcome of those talks for local government would look
like. We will be investigating which powers local authorities
could take as they are returned from Brussels and explore how our
departure from the EU might affect investment, development, and
economic funding affecting local authorities.
We will also want to look at the employment of EU nationals
and how local workforces may be impacted by Brexit, in areas such
as adult social care and construction.”
The Committee is expected to hold a series of one-off evidence
sessions running until early 2019 with the first evidence session
to be held later this year aimed at clarifying the key concerns
of the local government sector and the desired outcome of the EU
negotiations.
Written submissions – terms of reference
The Committee is inviting written submissions in relation to the
points below:
â— What are the greatest risks, and opportunities, for local
government posed by Brexit?
â— What measures should the Government take to provide more
certainty and stability for local government in light of Brexit?
â— What powers could be devolved from the EU directly to local
authorities?
â— The extent to which local government’s voice is being heard in
the Brexit negotiations and how representation can be improved
Please use this link to submit written
evidence.
The closing date for submissions is Tuesday 14 November.
