CRISIS managers for Oxfordshire judge Brexit to be of ‘low risk’ and ‘low impact’ as planning for it continues.
Thames Valley Local Resilience Forum, which helps in emergency situations across the region, is not anticipating trouble across Oxfordshire – despite some people’s fears over the UK’s departure from the European Union, currently planned for March 29.
The forum, which is led by Thames Valley Police out of its Kidlington headquarters, usually gives advice on emergencies including flooding, drought and heatwaves.
ALSO READ: Remain group say 'Brexit can be stopped' as 'campaign has never been stronger'
Ian Dyson, Oxfordshire County Council’s assistant director of finance, added planning work had been ongoing there too, including ‘all the [council’s] directors’.
He added: “We are also engaging with…external advisors. For example, (insurer) Zurich is providing us with the national picture.”
The county council has also had representatives attend Brexit seminars with central Government.
It has also worked with the city and district councils to measure the potential impact across Oxfordshire, Mr Dyson said.
Across the country, other authorities are more concerned. Kent would naturally stand to be more impacted by Brexit because of its location next to the Channel. Its county council said last November that a no-deal Brexit could mean gridlock on roads and rubbish left uncollected and piling up in streets.
Back in Oxfordshire, a council audit and governance meeting heard cabinet members are receiving frequent briefings on Brexit – but other councillors were irritated they were being left out.
ALSO READ: UCU worried about uncertainty over Brexit deal
Glynis Phillips, Labour councillor for Barton, Sandhills and Risinghurst, said it was ‘just not good enough’ cabinet members had been updated on the impact of Brexit but other members had not.
She said last Wednesday: “There are some members clearly in the know and some aren’t and I’m one of those who isn’t.”
But committee members will now receive written details of what the council’s plans are for Brexit after it requested to see them at the meeting.
The resilience forum is thought to have provided support in case of emergencies at major recent events, including the two Royal weddings and Donald Trump’s visit to Blenheim Palace last year.
Mr Dyson said there was ‘no issue in providing information’ regarding Brexit and planning to the committee. He added the only reason it had not received the details the cabinet had was because it had not asked for them.
In Oxfordshire, 70 per cent of people voted to remain in the EU when the referendum was held in June 2016.
Oxford City, West Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire all voted to remain, while Cherwell’s voters elected to leave.
Last July, Oxford City councillors backed a People’s Vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal. A similar bid in West Oxfordshire was rejected by its district council in October.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel