Kieran Curran, Policy Information and Commissioning Manager (Live Well) presented a report detailing some of the more significant issues facing the County Council in the wake of the UK's exit from the EU. This information had been requested by the Committee at their meeting on 27th June 2017.
It was reported that the Local Government Association, through its Brexit task and finish group, was attempting to influence the debate and had made a number of interventions in recent months over the future of European-led funding programmes and decisions over retaining, amending or scrapping EU laws once they were converted into domestic law.
The UK was set to leave the EU on 29th March 2019 but there was still a lot of uncertainty over the future of the UK including it's position in relation to EU law and regulations, it's future trade arrangements, and the prospects for a UK regional funding framework to replace existing EU programmes. Until the terms of Brexit were fully understood, key sectors of the Lancashire economy would not be able to fully assess the impact on their businesses, in terms of their levels of competitiveness, interaction with key markets and the regulatory frameworks which surrounded their industries.
A summary of the key risks/changes and areas for further analysis was provided to the Committee; these included funding, regulatory, economy and society issues.
The Committee noted the following areas which were likely to impact on county council services (or our providers), including:
· Working Time Directive and Agency Worker Regulations (2010)
· Procurement and competition law
· Social work regulation and accreditation
· Human rights protection
· Rights of people with disabilities (housing, education and independent living)
· Equalities
· Health & Safety regulations
· Crime and security (e.g. European Arrest Warrant)
County Councillor Green thanked Kieran for all his work on this and it was agreed to bring another report to the Cabinet Committee in 6-9 months time. Paul Bond informed the Committee that the UK's withdrawal from the EU was not yet on the Risk Register but that, as things became more clear, it would most likely be added.
Resolved: That the Cabinet Committee note the contents of the report and that a further report would be presented at the meeting in February 2018.