Staffordshire joins post Brexit debate

Staffordshire County Council members will meet the Chair of Parliamentary Select Committee next week following the production of a report on the impact of Brexit on Staffordshire.

The delegation will be led by the leader of Staffordshire Council, Philip Atkins, and he will joined by the Chairman of the Staffordshire All Party Group on external affairs, Alastair Little.

The meeting with Neil Parish MP will take place at the County Show in Stafford. Parish is the Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Select Committee.

The councillors’ report looks at the whole range of issues that Brexit throw up for businesses, the council and other organisations in Staffordshire. The objective of the report is to ensure that Staffordshire’s voice is heard in the development of a post -Brexit economic and industrial strategy.

Philip Atkins said: “Brexit will present huge opportunities for the UK and Staffordshire economy and we have been determined to ensure Staffordshire is well placed and ahead of the game in our preparations.”

The All Party report comments on workforce skills, alternatives to EU funding, business rates retention and procurement.

Atkins added: “We held a hugely successful event on Brexit and local government and now our all party member group has drawn up a comprehensive report on its implications and vitally how we will make them work for Staffordshire. We hope that businesses and other organisations will be able to use its findings and future research to help them seize future opportunities and benefit as we move forward.”

Staffordshire’s initiative has implications for the wider regional economy.

Atkins added: “We are also ensuring that ours and other county areas across the Midlands Engine play an integral part in the development of the Government’s industrial strategy for the years ahead in the global economy.”