COUNCIL officers are busy preparing for a Brexit “worst case scenario.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader, Cllr Mohammed Khan, said work is ongoing to make sure council departments and services are ready in the event of a no-deal Brexit on March 29.

In a report to members ahead of next week’s council forum, the leader of the council added the authority was also consulting with businesses in the area.

He said: “We are currently scheduled to leave the EU on March 29 and the council’s civil contingencies service are working with council departments and services in preparing for a worst case scenario Brexit no deal.

“As a council, we are using the Local Government Association’s template to identify specific risks and threats of a no deal scenario and responses are being co-ordinated via the civil contingencies service.

“In addition the Government’s technical notices published last year are being considered by all services areas for any consequences to their service area and business.

“Departmental business continuity plans are also being refreshed to reflect any risks.

The council is an active member of the Lancashire Resilience Forum (LRF) and we have been working in partnership with the police, fire and rescue, NHS, Environment Agency and other key agencies to make preparations around potential consequences to the community if a ‘no deal’ Brexit occurs.

“Individual agencies will also be expected to provide situational reports on a frequent basis to the Government. The council has contacted businesses across the borough to see if any business continuity support and resilience planning is needed.”