THE council is seeking the views of residents and businesses on how the borough should prepare for Brexit.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s (CWaC) ongoing preparations for the UK’s withdrawal from the EU will involve a public event next month.

It comes as uncertainty grows over how and when Brexit might happen with Prime Minister Theresa May’s deal likely to be rejected at the crunch vote in Parliament tomorrow (Tuesday, January 15).

CWaC’s cross party Post-Brexit Policy Commission has been meeting over recent months to discuss key issues ahead of the planned leave date on March 29.

Residents, business and wider partners are now being invited to the next meeting of the Policy Commission to present evidence on the themes and issues over which the council has an influence.

This public evidence session will be held on from 5.30pm on Wednesday, February 6, in the HQ Building on Nicholas Street in Chester.

Cllr Karen Shore, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Given the challenges and opportunities that Brexit may present, we would be interested to hear about them from your own perspective.

“For example: any plans which you may already have in place, information that would be useful for the Council to be sighted on, and what we could offer by way of support in future.

“The role of our Policy Commission is to consider themes and issues which can be planned for and influenced at a local level. It is not intended to act as a forum on the merits or otherwise of the decision in 2016 to leave the EU, so views expressed should be limited to how the Council should plan for a post-Brexit future.”

The agenda of the Public Evidence Session will be based around key local Brexit themes: local economy, rural considerations, rules and regulations and wider public services.

Experts and the public will be invited to provide evidence linked to each of these themes. Views expressed should be limited to how the Council should plan for a post-Brexit future. The event is not a question and answer session on Brexit from a national and European perspective.

Submissions should be made by Monday, January 28, to BrexitPolicyCommission@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

A full report on the Commission’s findings and its conclusions on how the Council can plan for a smooth period post Brexit will be presented at Cabinet in March.

Further details regarding the work of our Policy Commission, including the minutes of previous meetings, can be found on the council’s website: www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/PBPC.