SOUTHEND Council is attempting to prepare for Brexit while local authorities are having to guess how it could impact on services.

A report detailing how the council will deal with any disruption from leaving the European Union is being prepared and will be published in the new year after several months of work looking at jobs, business and funding.

Last month, the council confirmed it has been liaising with other local authorities in the region.

It came after Essex County Council said that the number of care workers transferring from the rest of the EU to Essex since the Brexit referendum has dropped by 90 per cent, causing a shortage in the number of workers.

The county council has also warned that a no deal Brexit would impact services and goods, employment, regulation, and civil contingencies. Other impacts include more than £50million in EU grant funding, which could be lost after 2020, it is feared,

Leader of Southend Council John Lamb said: “While negotiations are ongoing between the UK and the EU, the council is carefully considering its plans so that we are best prepared for any possible outcome. The report is subject to changes over the coming weeks as more information comes to light.”

While political battles continue rage in Westminster over whether the country will leave with or without a deal with the EU, the council said they will not be publishing separate reports for each outcome.

Labour Councillor Ian Gilbert said: “The Government doesn’t seem to know what is going on so it is difficult to know what preparations need to be made but we clearly need contingency measures in place.

“The council has got to make sure they are robust and ready for any eventuality. I know they are doing work with businesses that may be affected and they are considering whether emergency measures can be in place if significant disruption takes place.”

Southend BID chairman Dennis Baldry said: “Uncertainty over Brexit is damaging to public confidence and business in general. This has a cumulative and often negative effect on all business within the BID area and Southend as a whole.

“Anything that the council can offer to reassure residents and business and mitigate this impact locally will be welcomed and I look forward to seeing the council’s report in the New Year.”

Philip Miller MBE, executive chairman of the Stockvale Group, was more upbeat about the future of business in the borough claiming “business will always find ways of doing business”.

He added: “What the government and councils should be doing is encouraging everyone to buy British and local, and holiday in the UK at least once a year.

“With all due respect I just do not believe or trust the civil service and politicians they just make it up as they go along.”

Essex’s other unitary authority, Thurrock Council, said they have formed a Brexit working group which is meeting reguarly to undertake “impact mitigation work”.