A study on the impact Brexit could have in West Dunbartonshire – which receives millions in EU funding – wasn’t worth the money, say council chiefs.
It comes as the Lennox Herald uncovered that almost £9million of European funding is currently in use across the area on construction projects, tackling poverty and growing local businesses.
West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) say they are not doing any studies into how European Union (EU) withdrawal next year might impact the region.
Bosses claim it wouldn’t provide any local insight and are instead drawing on the work of COSLA and Glasgow City Council.
Local politicians hit out at the revelation – saying the local authority should not be relying solely on others to assess its economical stability.
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie said she was surprised and disappointed.
The details were revealed in a Freedom of Information request submitted by the Lennox Herald.
We asked the council if it had carried out or commissioned any studies into the impact Brexit may have on West Dunbartonshire, to which they responded they had not.
We also asked if the council had created an impact register on the effects of Brexit. Again the response was negative.
On quizzing the council further, they told us they would use COSLA and Glasgow City Council information, as well as “technical notices” from the UK Government to make the region “as prepared as possible”.
A council spokeswoman said: “WDC has drawn on work carried out on behalf of COSLA and Glasgow City Council for information on the ways our country might be impacted by Brexit.
“As we are intrinsically linked to the wider Glasgow city region and Scottish economy, and face similar challenges to other councils, it is unlikely an independent study for West Dunbartonshire would produce any locally specific insight to justify the cost of commissioning.
“Officers are also considering technical notices issued by the UK Government in terms of impact on both public and private sector to ensure we are as prepared as possible, whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations.”
Labour councillor David McBride agreed the council should be drawing on information from all available resources but insisted that West Dunbartonshire was one of a kind and a local study should be commissioned as soon as possible.
He said: “Given we are likely to be facing similar challenges, it is very sensible for the council to rely on the preparity work of COSLA and Glasgow City Council for Brexit.
“However, all areas are unique with individual areas of speciality and West Dunbartonshire should identify those areas for close considerations. Perhaps this should feature in plans without delay.”
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie was also critical.
She told us: “It is surprising and a little disappointing that WDC seems to have done absolutely no planning ahead of Brexit.
“There are a number of businesses, large and small, in West Dunbartonshire who export to Europe.
“They rely on trade agreements with the rest of the EU and will almost certainly be impacted by Brexit.
“I would have hoped that the council would have been proactive in working with businesses to face the challenges ahead.”
The Lennox Herald contacted SNP council leader Jonathan McColl but he refused to comment.
As part of the FOI request to the council, we asked how much cash from European funding sources was currently being used for projects in the region.
The figure totals £8.9m, with £2.6m of that for projects, which continue beyond March 29 next year.
This includes the West Dunbartonshire Poverty and Social Inclusion project, a West Dunbartonshire Pipeline project and Business Competitiveness in Dunbartonshire project.
Ms Baillie added: “There are also a number of projects that have received EU funding in the past, such as employability projects, that have helped local people secure jobs.
“I hope the council will provide clarity for these projects on whether they will continue after March 2019.”
COSLA President Councillor Alison Evison said: “COSLA’s position was a strong one for remaining a member of the EU.
“However we started contingency planning with and on behalf of our membership immediately after the decision to leave was taken.
“While we have reassurances that something will be in place for 2020, it is really not that far away
and we have little detail about how this will work through.”
The Lennox Herald also contacted West Dunbartonshire SNP MP Martin Docherty-Hughes but he was unavailable for comment.
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