Council leaders want ‘urgent assurances’ from Whitehall that they will still receive billions in EU funding following the referendum result.
The Local Government Association (LGA) reports the £5.3bn of regeneration funding from Brussels has already been earmarked by councils to create new jobs and build new infrastructure by 2020.
At their annual conference, which starts today, the LGA will also repeat their call for councils to be given a central role—a ‘seat around the table’--in deciding how to replace EU laws affecting their services.
The association will also launch its new consultation, ‘What next for devolution’, to ensure power over services does not pass straight from Brussels to Westminster in the event of a Brexit.
Lord Porter, LGA chairman, said: ‘Councils need to be involved from the outset in deciding how EU laws affecting local services are replaced and given the power to run them the way we think is best for our communities.
‘Local government must have a seat at the negotiating table.’
'Communities also need assurances from the Government that they will still receive billions of pounds worth of EU funding to create jobs, build infrastructure projects and boost growth,’ he continued.
‘As part of the immediate task to stabilise the national economy, this is essential to avoid the strength of local economies being put at risk.’
