Brexit could cost Milton Keynes Council over £10m according to new budget documents

    The impact of Britain's exit from the European Union could cost Milton Keynes Council over £10m according to new Council budget documents.

    The new papers indicate that Milton Keynes Council has prepared for certain costs to be up to 5% higher following Britain's departure from the European Union.

    Issues including rising inflation, changes to contracts and reduced business rates income have also been planned for.

    The impact report highlights a particular issue in the area of adult social care where there is a 'key risk that Council suppliers and contractors lose EU national employees that they rely upon to deliver these contracts'.

    Reduced business rates income is also a possibility based on a possible 'sharp economic slowdown'. The contingency allows for an increase in business failures that could lead to increased nonpayment of business rates or increased empty property relief.

    But the budget does not include any specific allowance for any changes in normal activity levels from increased staff turnover in the event that the Council experience a sharp increase in EU National staff choosing to leave as a result of the UK’s departure from the EU.

    This is highlighted as a risk in the document, but not accounted for because the Council does not hold data on EU nationals within its workforce records.

    Milton Keynes Council Leader Peter Marland was not available for comment.

    Cllr Alexander Walker, Leader of the Conservative Group on Milton Keynes Council, said: "I think it's absolutely right that the Council is preparing for a no-deal Brexit. That said, if that is where we end up, I am confident that our economy is robust enough that Milton Keynes will continue to flourish."

    "The Government has already confirmed EU nationals will be able to remain in the UK."

    "It does, however, highlight the importance of getting a good deal, something I know our local MP's are keen to secure."

    Gerard Burke, from the pro-EU European Movement Milton Keynes group, said: "These figures are truly shocking and MK residents who depend on Council services for vital life-preserving things like housing, social care and schooling, should be extremely worried.  I truly fear what this means for some of our more vulnerable residents."

    "Inevitably, that means less money for social care - so vulnerable adults and children in particular will not get the care they desperately need, less money to build and maintain council houses - so Council tenants will have to continue to put up with poor quality accommodation, less money for local schools - so our children will have fewer teachers and bigger class sizes, less money to deal with our homelessness crisis - so more people will end up living on the streets and in the underpasses, less money for road repairs - so more potholes and more damage to our cars, less money for waste collection and recycling - so more rubbish on the streets of Milton Keynes."

    "And, most shockingly, it could be even worse than this.   Non-UK EU citizens help to provide our vital local services, particularly in areas like social care, health and construction.  Having been treated so badly by the Government and made to feel unwelcome, many of them are leaving the UK.  But, the Council has no way of predicting how many non-UK EU citizens might leave their jobs with the Council and need to be replaced - because the Council doesn’t even know how many EU citizens it employs!"

    Mr Burke added that his group are continuing to call for a 'People’s Vote' giving people the option to change their minds in a new referendum.

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