Medway Council has been urged to be more transparent about how it plans to deal with the outcome of Brexit negotiations.

Cabinet has been asked to commission a “simple, easy-to-understand document on the specific areas which are relevant to the authority’s economic, educational, and social priorities and requirements”.

Earlier this month, leader Cllr Alan Jarrett (Con) said: “If government doesn’t know what Brexit looks like, why should I get the chief executive running around like a headless chicken assessing every possible scenario?”

At last night’s business support overview and scrutiny committee meeting (October 25), deputy chief executive Richard Hicks confirmed there was a “watching brief” regarding potential impacts of a Brexit deal or no-deal.

But members said they wanted “flesh on the bones” of this work, and for the information to be publicly available.

Cllr Andy Stamp (Lab) said: “My overarching concern is our current approach as a council is too informal – it’s too fragmented, and it’s too uncoordinated.

“I do think we need to have a formal approach of how we’re dealing with the situation.”

The committee agreed agriculture, medical and social care provision, and tourism in the Towns are the aspects most likely to be affected by leaving the European Union.

Phil Watts, chief finance officer, said the council was “insulating” itself against any market turbulence brought about after March 29, 2019 – the day the UK is due to leave the EU.

Cabinet will be asked to bring together all the work that is going on behind-the-scenes and for it to be published to give the public “confidence”.

Cllr Stuart Tranter (Con) added: “It would be good to know what those areas are, and it would be good to know who within the council is having that watching brief on those different areas.

“As and when those areas do become firmer and we’ve got a greater idea of what is likely to happen in that area post-Brexit, then that person (can come forward) and say we need to take some action – or not.”

Cllr Roy Freshwater (Ukip) said the council should not be putting “fearmongering concerns” in the public domain, while Cllr Vince Maple (Lab) told the authority not to “bury their head in the sand”.

Not everyone agreed about the usefulness of the document though.

Cllr David Wildey (Con) told members: “You could have a 10,000-page document and still not cover every eventuality.

“If you try to cover every eventuality, you’ll still be writing it two days after Brexit.”