The Leader introduced the report which gave an update on preparations for Brexit, referring to the work of the Resilience Team and the coordination of work with KCC and the Police.  He emphasised the importance of community leadership and the role that councillors would need to play in communicating with residents, regardless of their own political views on the subject.

The Leader drew attention to various sections of the report, in particular paragraph 2.4, referring to the uncertainties around what would happen and the potential problems identified in the report that may or may not occur.  Whilst Members might have strong opinions on the subject, he encouraged Members to play their part in helping residents to understand what was happening.  He emphasised that key priorities for the Council were to maintain services, in particular for waste collection and food safety and certification, and drew attention to the funding that been provided to assist with the preparations.  He asked Members to note the report.

This was seconded by the Deputy Leader who reserved his right to speak.

The Leader of the Conservative Group thanked the Leader for the update and agreed that Members had an important role to play in communicating with residents and that political allegiances should be put aside.  He clarified that if extra police were required, resources would not be diverted from local policing.

A discussion ensued on the report which was welcomed, during which Officers were thanked for their work on this.  Debate centred around the following themes:

·         Acknowledgement of the fishing and pharmaceutical industries;

·         The method of communication with parish councils that were not members of the Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC);

·         How much money had been allocated to the Port of Sheerness;

·         The report was useful and would help to reassure members and residents;

·         Clarification that KCC had been given powers to direct traffic but not to enforce, which remained the responsibility of the Police;

·         The need for community cohesion and to show community leadership, and for Members to work together;

·         Encouragement to use social media to communicate with residents;

·         Whether problems with waste collection in Teynham and Lynsted would be resolved before 31 October 2019;

·         The need to coordinate work via the Kent Resilience Forum;

·         Whilst social media was a useful tool, many residents did not have access and so other methods of communication were needed.

·         Given the potential for problems on the highway, the need for KCC to keep their work programme under review.  It was confirmed that only essential and emergency work would take place; and

·         Confirmation that arrangements for access to fuel had been considered.

In seconding the proposal, the Deputy Leader confirmed that KALC had been involved at an early stage and that Members had a role to play in communicating with their Parish and Town Councils too, and encouraged Members to liaise with any community halls in their areas.  He encouraged Members to follow the Swale Borough Council Facebook and Twitter accounts and to share posts/re-tweet.

In summing-up, the Leader emphasised the importance for Members, KCC and the Police to work together, and that he was sure the issue of access to fuel had been considered by the Kent Resilience Forum. He confirmed that the amount allocated by the Government to Sheerness Port was £1million.

Resolved:

(1) That the update on the work being undertaken on Brexit preparedness be noted.