A FULL-SCALE report examining how Brexit will effect Gloucestershire is due to be prepared by the county council.

At today’s full council, members agreed that work will be carried out to understand the effect Britain leaving the EU could have on public sector organisations across the county.

The motion, jointly proposed by the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups, called for a review into the economic implications of ‘Brexit’.

It will include taking evidence from GFirst LEP, NHS organisations and our district council partners to put together a whole county picture.

The report will be drafted with the aim of bringing an initial draft back to full council in September, with a final draft being available from December.

It will also feed into the Local Government Association’s review into the impact on local councils across the UK.

Cllr Lesley Williams, leader of the Labour Group, said: “This motion was about bringing the County together, regardless of how we voted.

“It’s about putting a plan of action in place, and getting our house in order.

“I was thrilled that the Conservatives and Liberals supported our call for action. We will await the report from the Council, in September and by then we will an idea of what challenges are ahead of us.”

Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “We're going through a momentous time and this gives us the opportunity to provide leadership locally.

“Today set the wheels in motion to get the Council prepared for “Brexit” and for all councillors to understand the possible impact on services."

Cllr Mark Hawthorne, leader of the council, said: “As democrats, whatever individual councillors campaigned for, we all have a duty to pull together and put the best interests of our county, and our country, first.

“The council has already started looking at some of their implications of “Brexit”, and while many won’t be known for some time, I am happy to share what we know with councillors.”