Decision

Councillor Brazil MOVED and Councillor Arnott SECONDED that the Cabinet’s advice be accepted and that the response to the motion be as follows;

that Council be recommended to:

(a) Note the Notice of Motion relating to Brexit, Economic impacts and the European Single Market;

(b) Note the evidence presented regarding the economic impacts of Brexit on trade, investment, productivity, labour supply and regional economic growth, including impacts affecting sectors important to Devon’s economy;

(c) Agree that the Leader of the Council write to relevant Government ministers, Devon Members of Parliament, the Local Government Association and the County Councils Network setting out the Council’s position regarding the economic importance of strong trading and economic relationships with European markets for Devon’s economy and communities;

(d) Support continued partnership working with local authorities, business organisations, universities, sector bodies and the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority to strengthen Devon’s international economic relationships, support inward investment, workforce development, research collaboration and trade opportunities, including engagement with European and wider international partners where appropriate;

(e) Agree that the Council should continue to work with District Councils, the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority, business representative organisations, universities, learning providers and other regional partners to understand and respond to wider economic and labour market impacts affecting Devon, which BREXIT has further added to; and

(f) Agree that the Council should work with businesses, business organisations to monitor trading conditions and constraints on growth, including European markets and access to labour and support such groups to evidence the issues with Government and relevant departments, including supporting the design of appropriate business support advice programmes and national investment.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Brazil was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

It was then MOVED by Councillor Hill and SECONDED by Councillor Game that recommendation (c) be amended to read as follows (additional wording in red):

(c) Agree that the Leader of the Council write to relevant Government Ministers, Members of Parliament, the Local Government Association and the County Councils Network setting out the position adopted by the Council regarding the economic importance of strong trading and economic relationships with European markets for Devon’s economy and communities.

That correspondence shall make clear the voting outcome by which that position was adopted and shall include the names of those Members who have indicated their support for the position expressed in the letter.

Recognising that there are substantially differing political views amongst elected Members regarding Brexit and the future relationship between the United Kingdom and European Union, the Leader of the Reform UK (Devon) Group shall be invited to provide a counter-position to accompany the Council’s correspondence, setting out the alternative view that the economic consequences attributed to Brexit should be distinguished from the manner in which Brexit was negotiated and implemented, and explaining how an alternative approach to Brexit could have sought to mitigate those economic impacts.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Hill was then put to the vote and declared LOST.

The motion in the name of Councillor Brazil was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.