To consider the following Motion in the names
of Councillors Lawson, A Pinnock, K Pinnock, Iredale, Burke,
Eastwood, Wilson, Munro, Cooper, Stewart-Turner and Allison.
“This Council
notes:
- The growing concern at the prospect
of the UK leaving the European Union (EU) with either a bad deal or
no deal at all.
- The growing support for people to
have a say on the final Brexit deal, including support from
organisations such as the British Medical Association, the Royal
College of Nursing, GMB, Prospect, TSSA, business leaders and
student unions representing over 980,000 students at 60
universities and colleges.
This Council believes
that:
- By voting to leave the EU in June
2016, the UK voted for departure but not the destination. There has
never been a consensus about how to leave and about our future
relationship with the EU post-Brexit, but the years since the
referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU has shown the
complexity of the task and how challenging Brexit is to
deliver.
- Since the referendum, there has been
meaningful debate about our EU membership; there is now greater
public awareness about the nature and impact of Brexit on the UK
and there is ongoing movement in public opinion.
- The future direction of the country
post-Brexit should not be decided by a small number of
parliamentarians in Westminster. This is too big an issue and will
affect all of us for generations to come; sovereignty rests with
the people.
- The decision to leave the EU and
subsequent negotiations has created political, social and economic
uncertainty in the UK. Brexit is likely to have a major impact on
local authorities, including Kirklees Council, potentially reducing
funding for local and regional investment and development projects,
affecting governance and legal frameworks and impacting on the
progress of devolution deals.
- There are implications for Kirklees
as a result of Brexit and there is consternation from some of our
residents, including non-UK EU nationals, about what Brexit may
mean for them. For instance, leaving may have an impact on our
local health services, with recent NHS data revealing that 31
nurses and health visitors from EU member states left Calderdale
and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust between March 2017 and March
2018. Brexit is already having an impact on our local manufacturing
industry, while some businesses in our region are reconsidering
investment plans in new production and new jobs while they await
the Brexit deal. Furthermore, Brexit may limit the educational
opportunities for our young people. It may cause damage to our
local economy and public services and result in a squeeze in living
standards.
- As a country, we are not close to
resolving the big issues about which people care about; parliament
is deadlocked and the impasse will cause insurmountable damage to
the UK. A public vote is the only way to move forward.
- The British people deserve the right
to have a final say on what direction the country should take on
Brexit and must have a vote on the UK’s final deal with the
European Union.
This Council, therefore,
resolves to:
- Request that Cabinet updates and
maintains the Council’s Risk Register, ensuring that the
Register includes an up-to-date and robust account of the risks
associated with Brexit;
- Be proactive in planning, outlining
the issues and risks associated with different Brexit scenarios,
assessing the possible impact on the Council and local area and
implementing recommend measures as soon as possible;
- Support people to have a say on any
final Brexit deal through a vote;
Ask the Leader of
the Council to write to the Prime Minister expressing the
Council’s support for people to have a final say on the
Brexit deal.”