Council to buy laptops for staff to work from home post-Brexit amid fears of gridlock, dirty streets and overflowing rubbish across Tonbridge and Malling
Published: 14:27, 18 January 2019
Updated: 18:33, 18 January 2019
Streets could be left dirty and overflowing with rubbish after Brexit, with council staff forced to work from home, a damning report has warned.
Tonbridge and Malling council bosses are looking to spend around £50,000 on buying 100 laptops for officers to use remotely as part of a series of contingency measures if the borough’s roads are gridlocked after we leave the European Union on March 29.
Given its proximity to the M20 and the fact there are a number major centres for the logistics industry in the area, the district has long been highlighted as one that could suffer the most if government officials fail to secure a smooth split from Brussels.
A report due to be discussed by members on Tuesday warns of a number of threats to services across the area, including the prospect of bins not being collected on time and disruption to street cleaning.
Furthermore, money generated by Larkfield Leisure Centre could suffer as a result of fewer visits, the number of council meetings could be reduced in case members can’t attend, and grounds maintenance could also be affected.
It is also proposing to encourage many voters to cast their ballots via post for the upcoming council elections on May 2, to cut down on traffic heading towards polling stations.
To help with preparations, the town hall has applied for £105,000 from Kent County Council's Brexit Contingency Fund.
"Approximately half of this would be used to purchase laptops to enable staff to work from home," said director of finance and transformation, Sharon Shelton.
"The remainder will fund increased emergency planning resilience."
The report comes just weeks after KCC issued a series of similar warnings of its own, including the prospect of students struggling to attend exams and carers being unable to reach vulnerable elderly people.
More than 55% of votes cast locally in the 2016 referendum were in favour of leaving the EU.
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Tom Pyman