Sam Clayden 24 June 2016

Brexit: Council leaders call for key role in replacing EU laws

Local Government must be given a 'seat around the table' when it comes to deciding how to replace EU laws, council leaders have insisted.

The Local Government Association (LGA) said councils would be central to bringing communities back together after the EU referendum campaign split the country in two, but they must also be part of the negotiation team.

In a statement following the UK’s decision to leave the union, the LGA said: 'EU laws and regulations impact on many council services, such as waste, employment, health and safety, consumer protection and trading and environmental standards.

‘There cannot be an assumption that power over these services is simply transferred from Brussels to Westminster.

‘If services are delivered locally, the power over how to run them should rest locally too.

‘Decades of centralised control over funding and services has distanced our residents from the decisions that affect their everyday lives.

‘With greater control in our areas we can improve services and save money. Communities in England have been allocated £5.3bn of EU regeneration funding up to 2020.

‘It is important for the Government to guarantee it will protect this vital funding to avoid essential growth-boosting projects stalling and local economies across England being stifled.

‘The LGA will continue to represent the interests of English councils in Brussels as the UK’s exit from the EU is negotiated.’

The Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) also called for local government to be 'fairly represented' within EU exit negotiations and for councils to be fully consulted on changes to budgets and regulations.

APSE national chair, cllr Martin Reilly, said: 'We now need a UK wide and sector representative local government forum to work with central government on responding to the EU exit.

'Such a forum needs to be fully representative of the whole of local government and should be one which understands the full intricacies of local council services and the interface with EU regulations. Only then will we be able to ensure the best possible outcomes for local councils and the communities they serve.'

Read our feature on what Brexit could mean for local government.

Making payment processes smarter  image

Making payment processes smarter

It can be challenging to find the right software to streamline payment processes. Lewis McKenna-Crisp argues SmarterPay has the ideal solution for councils.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Director of Public Health

Royal Borough of Greenwich
Up to £131,210
The Public Health department is at the heart of the council’s business. Greenwich, London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Head of Regeneration and Growth

Plymouth City Council
£68,387 - £74,411 (MFS and relocation available, pay award pending)
This is a unique opportunity to lead our award-winning development team and directly deliver hundreds of millions of pounds of projects. Plymouth, Devon
Recuriter: Plymouth City Council

Director of Adult Social Care

Wiltshire Council
£119,390 - £127,137
Join us as the Director of Adult Social Care and make a real difference to people’s lives. Wiltshire
Recuriter: Wiltshire Council

Assistant Director Planning, Performance & Engagement

East Sussex County Council
up to £97,700
With strong local communities, unspoilt countryside and vibrant coastal towns, East Sussex offers an exceptional quality of life to many. East Sussex
Recuriter: East Sussex County Council

Director of Finance & Commerce

Lancashire County Council
Up to £114,339
You will play a critical role in driving the organisation through complex change and innovation. Lancashire
Recuriter: Lancashire County Council
Linkedin Banner