The leader of Cotswold District Council has warned MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown the authority will have to make “very tough decisions” about its finances if a no-deal Brexit goes ahead.

In an open letter to the Cotswold MP, councillor Joe Harris said Britain leaving the European Union without a deal on October 31 could leave the district council in a tough position as authority officials begin to balance the books for next year.

In the letter Mr Harris, the Liberal Democrat council leader, said a recent Government announcement of a £20million cash injection for councils to prepare for Brexit “doesn’t relieve financial pressures”.

He wrote all councils were recently told by the Local Government secretary Robert Jenrick to “step up” Brexit preparations, including a no deal Brexit.

Mr Harris (St Michaels) said Cheltenham Borough Council leader Steve Jordan has also written to the town’s MP, Alex Chalk, also asking him for more answers.

THE LETTER IN FULL

Dear Geoffrey,

In recent weeks, the leaders of each local authority have been asked to step up their preparations for Brexit, including a No Deal Brexit, by the newly appointed Secretary of State for Local Government, Robert Jenrick MP.

All Councils have been told to identify a senior officer as a “Brexit Lead Officer”, which we’ve done, and also invited to participate in a series of webinars which we’ll take part in.

Furthermore, the Secretary of State used his appointment as an opportunity to parade a further £20million of funding for all local authorities to aid Brexit preparations. Whilst any extra funding is of

course welcome this figure still doesn’t relieve the pressure on our finances and the uncertainty of Brexit only serves to make this situation worse.

“I want to stress that a ‘No Deal’ Brexit in particular could leave the Council having to make very tough decisions as we begin the budget setting process for the next financial year.

I write to you today as I am extremely concerned that the Government has failed to add any clarity to this uniquely perilous situation. Having engaged in the process, as set out by government, neither myself nor key officers are really much the wiser as to what we’re supposed to be preparing for.

As we steamroller towards a Brexit in just two months’ time, I am asking you to liaise with colleagues in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, to ask that they work harder to help us identify the challenges and most importantly the solutions we face as we near the departure from the European Union.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Joe Harris

Leader of Cotswold District Council