(a)

the withdrawal agreement which the UK Government had negotiated with the European Union would be subject to a meaningful vote in Parliament in the week commencing 14 January 2019; currently it was likely that Parliament would reject the agreement;  the default position if no deal with the EU had been agreed would be that the UK would leave without a deal in place on 29 March 2019 (11pm);

(b)

the EU did have the power to extend the Article 50 negotiations but if it refused to do so, the UK could withdraw notice unilaterally as confirmed by the European Court of Justice last week;

(c)

planning had commenced on two parallel work streams in the event of a no deal which included -

?

civil contingencies planning which was focussing on the immediate impacts of leaving the EU such as disruption to supplies and services (including medicine/medical supplies), travel, borders, information and data sharing, demonstrations and disorder, community tension and business continuity;

?

implementation planning which aimed to develop the Council’s proactive response to identified risks which included information, advice and guidance, economic shock and community cohesion;

(d)

the political position in seeking an agreement within Parliament, the withdrawal agreement and the corporate work being undertaken including risks and opportunities and no deal risks.

(e)

whether the generic plan that had been published by the Government for Local Authorities would need to be adapted with the council’s civil and business contingency plans;

(f)

which multi agencies would be involved in a ‘no deal’ contingency exercise;

(g)

whether the Government had appointed a regional Tsar to cover contingency issues in the event of a ‘no deal Brexit’;

(h)

what measures would be put in place to control the movement of livestock through the city’s port;

(i)

whether there had been any indication of the potential increased activity at the ferry port;

(j)

whether more  detailed information would be released with regard to the increase in vet inspections required, hygiene checks, etc;

(k)

whether highways were also part of the planning process with the anticipated increased level of additional freight using the port;

(l)

whether the council had entered into discussions with the supermarkets regarding the potential disruption to food chain supplies;

(m)

what measures were in place for the long term emergency planning;

(n)

whether the Council would be reimbursed by the Government for the work undertaken on the planning for Brexit;

(o)

what had been the cost to the Council, to date, in planning for Brexit;

(p)

whether there was a communication strategy in place.