Councils will ‘feel the brunt’ of the implications brought on by a no-deal Brexit, councillors in Caerphilly have heard.
Tim Peppin, director of regeneration and sustainable development at the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), said local authorities had to “hope for the best, plan for the worst” amid uncertainty.
Councillors were told that certain supplies from continental Europe could be disrupted which could impact on school and social care meals provisions.
It was also suggested the council may have to rent extra warehousing space to stockpile goods received from Europe to avoid shortages.
Mr Peppin said: “If we haven’t got a deal then there could be lots of implications, and local authorities will feel the brunt of that.
“We’re not likely to face an overall shortage, but there could be shortages of some key products.”
The council, which has been provided a Brexit preparedness ‘toolkit’ by the WLGA, was also warned that Caerphilly’s economy and business community would be hit hardest by no-deal.
A £1 million ‘emergency’ Brexit fund, aimed at providing immediate support for those affected by Brexit in the borough, was also approved at the council meeting held on January 22.