COUNCIL chiefs are set to put forward plans to create a Brexit Response Team to ensure SBC is equipped to deal with the UK’s exit from the European Union.

The proposal will be put before the Executive Committee on Tuesday and bosses are hoping it is given the green light.

Bryan McGrath, the chief officer of economic development at SBC said: “Given the importance of the implications of Brexit for the Scottish Borders, it is proposed that an internal Brexit Response Team is established in order to ensure that the council effectively monitors and responds to the wide range of changes likely to flow from the UK’s exit from the European Union.

“The team would have a representative from each of the main service areas likely to be affected by Brexit,” he added.

“Initially this would include Economic Development, Finance, Regulatory Services, Procurement, Human Resources and Legal. Over time, other relevant services would also be added as more details of the Brexit changes emerge.”

The council has also set out the main implications for the Borders through exiting the EU, which include: financial issues for the agricultural sector; the significant number of export-orientated businesses in the region, which need continued access to the Single European Market; the uncertainty of the long-term status of the approximately 3,500 EU nationals living in the region; and the lack of access to major funding for economic development that may have arisen through the Southern Scotland NUTS 2 proposal.

Mr McGrath added: “Since the vote, the UK Government has taken actions which have sought to mitigate some of these issues. It has announced continued support for the farming sector on the same basis as the EU Common Agricultural Policy up to the end of 2020.

“Funding commitments have also been given for EU funded structural and investment projects which continue after the UK has left the EU.”

But while the UK Government is trying to resolve these issues, on Tuesday it was announced that it does not have to consult Scotland before pulling out.

Tweeddale MP David Mundell told us: “As the Supreme Court ruled, the UK Government is not legally compelled to consult the devolved administrations before triggering Article 50. 

“Scotland’s voice is being heard clearly throughout the whole process – through the 59 MPs that represent Scotland in the UK Parliament, the Joint Ministerial Committee process, our close working with the Scottish Government and the sustained engagement we have had across Scotland since the vote to leave the EU.”

Borders SNP MP Calum Kerr added: “I’ll be working with colleagues in my own and other parties to keep the maximum number of alternative options open going forward.

“It’s highly significant that the Supreme Court ruled that the Sewel Convention – which is supposed to prevent laws impacting on devolved areas being passed without the consent of the Scottish Parliament – actually has no force even though it forms a key part of the Scotland Act 2016.

“So this is a big moment in the history of the union too. As I said last week in the chamber, yet again we’re facing a democratic deficit and a government we didn’t vote for, with the power to wreck our economy.

"Do the Tories really expect us to stand idly by on this?”