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‘A ‘no deal’ Brexit represents a significant barrier to achieving a fairer Bristol’
Adult and children’s social care could be among the hardest hit by a ‘no deal Brexit’, according to a stark new report by Bristol City Council.
The 32-page “worst-case scenario” draft document has been put together by officers faced with having to plan for the possible implications if Britain ends up leaving the EU without an agreement.
Among the key risks identified is a “significant threat that statutory council health and social care services in Bristol could fail to be delivered, impacting on service users, families and citizens”.
is needed now More than ever
The report outlines a concern that the the reliance on EU nationals will exacerbate the acute problems of recruitment and retention that already exist.
Among the current adult social care workforce in the city, 1,206 employees (10 per cent) are from EU countries, making the sector particularly vulnerable to a drop in net migration.
Meanwhile, Government figures show the number of EU workers in the region has already fallen by 29 per cent since 2016.
The draft report itself is intended purely for planning purposes and is not indicative of the council’s anticipated outcome of Brexit negotiations.
It comes as analysis from a range of government departments predict the UK will be significantly worse off under all Brexit scenarios and in anticipation of a parliamentary vote on Theresa May’s proposed deal.
The report’s findings certainly add weight to wider concerns about the implications of a ‘no deal’ scenario, already voiced by business and political leaders.
Marvin Rees says a ‘no deal’ Brexit would make the city poorer
Commenting on the report, mayor Marvin Rees said: “A ‘no deal’ Brexit would make us poorer and represents a significant barrier to achieving the fairer society we want for the city.
“I have said before that Brexit is the wrong answer to the right question.
“We should be focusing on narrowing the inequality within our society, tackling poverty in all its forms and creating opportunities for people across the country to help drive our economy forward.
“This report does not seek to add further to the Brexit debate, but is a frank and realistic view of what could be the implications for the council should a ‘no deal’ Brexit emerge.
“We need to plan and prepare for the worst, so we can be ready to deal with the effects of leaving the EU without a deal if necessary.
“I will be meeting with the members of the Bristol Brexit Response Group next week to see how we as a city can collaborate with other parts of the UK and the EU to continue to deliver for the people of Bristol.”
In Bristol, 62 per cent of the population voted to remain in the EU
The council’s supply chain is another area of risk identified in the draft report. Some £350m was spent on goods and services, from 10,000 suppliers. The extent to which these companies are prepared for Brexit remains largely unknown.
The report states that a ‘no deal’ Brexit could result in cost pressures for the council in areas such as construction, social care, education, facilities management, repairs and maintenance.
Tim Borrett, the council’s director for policy, strategy and partnerships, said that putting together a “risk assessment” for the council was a priority, and stakeholders will be invited to feed into the document before it is finalised.
He predicts more organisations across the city will be publishing their own contingency plans over the next couple of months.
Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham are the only Core Cities to have published a such a report at this stage. As a city with a strong, local economy, officers predict that Bristol will fare comparatively better than some places in the UK.
The draft report will be examined by the council’s resources scrutiny commission on Thursday, December 6.
Main image courtesy of Destination Bristol.
Read more: ‘Brexit is a consequence of big problems in Britain’
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