Agenda item

The EU Referendum held on the 23 June with its decision to EXIT the European referendum is not a mandate for abandoning the progressive reforms that the European Union introduced or the obvious advantages of the Single Market to industry and trade.

This Council is concerned that there seems no clear indication of what stance the Government will take in the negotiations after article 50 is triggered and alarmed at certain Ministers who are willing to consider a hard BREXIT – withdrawal from all aspects of EU cooperation including access to the Single Market . Such a move would destroy many industries in Oxfordshire and send the national economy into long term decline.

What is to be done in vital cooperation issues directly related to Council services such as pollution controls, recycling, structural funds, competition rules plus numerous rules and regulations related to employment and procurement are as yet totally unclear.

The Council calls on the Government to clarify is aims in the EU negotiations and to establish that a primary objective will be to maintain our exporters ability to access the Single Market with ease. Such a stance will stop the speculative runs on the pound we have already witnessed and make it clear to foreign companies who are only operating here because of our present tariff free access to Europe that they should remain.   

The Leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister to illustrate the Councils concerns on this issue.

With the consent of Council, Councillor Coates moved and Councillor Fooks seconded the motion as amended by Councillor Fooks below in bold/strikethrough:

The EU Referendum held on the 23 June with its decision to EXIT the European referendum Union is not a mandate for abandoning the progressive reforms that the European Union introduced or the obvious advantages of the Single Market to industry and trade.

This Council is concerned that there seems no clear indication of what stance the Government will take in the negotiations after article 50 is triggered and alarmed at certain Ministers who are willing to consider the prospect of a hard BREXIT – withdrawal from all aspects of EU cooperation including access to the Single Market. . Such a move Thiswould destroy many industries in Oxfordshire, disadvantage educational and research establishments on all of which Oxfordshire’s growth depends, and send the national economy into long term decline.

What is to be done in vital cooperation issues directly related to Council services such as pollution controls, recycling, structural funds, competition rules plus numerous rules and regulations related to employment and procurement are as yet totally unclear.

The Council calls on the Government to clarify is aims in the EU negotiations and to establish that a primary objective will be to maintain our exporters ability to access the Single Market with ease. Such a stance will stop the speculative runs on the pound we have already witnessed and make it clear to foreign companies who are only operating here because of our present tariff free access to Europe that they should remain.   

The Leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister to illustrate the Councils Council’s concerns on this issue.

Following debate, The motion as amended was put to the vote and was lost by 28 votes to 25.

RESOLVED: (by 28 votes to 25)

The EU Referendum held on the 23 June with its decision to EXIT the Union is not a mandate for abandoning the progressive reforms that the European Union introduced or the obvious advantages of the Single Market to industry and trade.

This Council is concerned that there seems no clear indication of what stance the Government will take in the negotiations after article 50 is triggered and alarmed at the prospect of a hard BREXIT – withdrawal from all aspects of EU cooperation including access to the Single Market. Thiswould destroy many industries in Oxfordshire, disadvantage educational and research establishments on all of which Oxfordshire’s growth depends,and send the national economy into long term decline.

What is to be done in vital cooperation issues directly related to Council services such as pollution controls, recycling, structural funds, competition rules plus numerous rules and regulations related to employment and procurement are as yet totally unclear.

The Council calls on the Government to clarify is aims in the EU negotiations and to establish that a primary objective will be to maintain our exporters ability to access the Single Market with ease. Such a stance will stop the speculative runs on the pound we have already witnessed and make it clear to foreign companies who are only operating here because of our present tariff free access to Europe that they should remain.   

The Leader of the Council to write to the Prime Minister to illustrate the Council’s concerns on this issue.