Briefings and responses

European Union laws impact many of the council services that affect people's day-to-day lives, from protecting people from unsafe food when they eat out to regulating how councils buy goods and services. The conversion of EU law will therefore have an impact on our most important public services.

The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will convert the entire body of EU law into UK law, with the intention of allowing businesses to continue operating and providing fairness to individuals, knowing the rules have not changed when the UK leaves the EU. This legal certainty must be given to councils too.

Amendment statements for border checks; family reunification; local government consultation and devolution.

This briefing sets out the issues in the draft EU withdrawal agreement of most importance to local government.

The UK’s exit from the EU will have a significant impact on local communities and businesses. The LGA, along with local government associations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, is meeting regularly with ministers and officials to discuss issues important to councils.

As we leave the European Union, the Government’s industrial strategy provides an opportunity to drive the creation of a successful, world-leading economy. We welcome the strong focus on place as one of the five foundations of productivity and the building block of local industrial strategies.

The White Paper Legislating for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU states that leaving the EU is an opportunity to ensure returning “power sits closer to the people of the UK than ever before”. It includes a commitment to continue to champion devolution to local government.

The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill will convert the entire body of EU law into UK law, with the intention of allowing businesses to continue operating and providing fairness to individuals, knowing the rules have not changed when the UK leaves the EU.

Since the referendum in 2016, the LGA has been highlighting the most important risks and opportunities for local government resulting from the UK’s exit from the EU.

This paper offers the headline issues for local government under a ‘no deal’ Brexit scenario and advises Government on the key issues that would need to be addressed through national action.