Agenda and minutes

Southwark Brexit Panel - Tuesday 4 February 2020 6.30 pm

Venue: Ground Floor Meeting Room G01A - 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH. View directions

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES

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    To receive any apologies for absence.

    Minutes:

    There were apologies for absence from Councillors Jon Hartley and Maria Linforth-Hall, and for lateness from Councillor Margy Newens.

2.

DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS AND DISPENSATIONS

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    Members to declare any interest and dispensations in respect of any item of business to be considered at this meeting.

    Minutes:

    There were none.

3.

MINUTES

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    To agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2019.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    The minutes of the meeting held on 22 July 2019 were agreed as an accurate record of the meeting.

4.

IMPACT OF BREXIT ON SOUTHWARK - PROGRESS REPORT

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    To note the progress update report and risk-register considered by Cabinet on 21 January 2020, discuss how best to continue to communicate and support residents through the Settled Status process and consider the council’s role in ensuring that the diverse communities in Southwark continue to feel welcome.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Councillor Victoria Mills introduced the report. The meeting then discussed issues around lobbying government and raising issues affecting Southwark post-Brexit via the most appropriate forums.

     

    The panel also discussed engaging with affected residents and workers, the possibility of organising a Brexit summit, and the actions arising from the motion agreed at the last meeting of council assembly. 

     

    The council’s need for accurate and up-to-date statistical data on EU residents and workers and the impact of Brexit on the local hospitality and restaurant industries were also discussed.

     

    The meeting agreed to schedule in panel meetings every eight weeks, or when events required it.

5.

SOUTHWARK COUNCIL'S RESPONSE TO BREXIT - EXTERNAL AFFAIRS PLAN

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    To note the external affairs plan on the council’s response to Brexit.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    After an introduction to the report given by Councillor Victoria Mills, the meeting  discussed issues around engaging with EU residents and staff, and communicating the rules regarding settled status to these residents. This would include a call for expressions of interest aimed at voluntary sector groups to run engagement projects. Further groups for the council to liaise with regarding engagement should include business improvement districts, hospitals, social care providers and large employers in the borough.

     

    The meeting further discussed the non-availability of reliable figures regarding the number of EU residents and their settled status, and possible ways of obtaining these, as well as the voting rights of EU nationals.