PARTY leaders on Stroud District Council have joined forces to outline the council's plans for taking on Brexit.

A joint statement, published on Monday and signed by leaders of each of the four parties represented at Ebley Mill, lays out the council's strategy for dealing with the outcome of the referendum vote.

It includes discussions with the government, MPs, the South West’s MEPs, unions and many of the district’s major employers.

The Labour, Conservative, Green and Lib Dem group leaders stressed the council would make every effort to ensure that the economic, social, environmental and financial implications of Brexit were managed well.

Stroud bucked the trend in the South West and voted to remain in the European Union by 55 per cent to 45 per cent. But, despite the local result, the district must now begin making preparations for the UK pulling out of the EU.

“We are already in contact with national bodies such as the Local Government Association and the District Council Network who will soon begin discussions with Government about how this will affect councils across the country,” party leaders said in a joint statement.

“We will liaise with our Members of Parliament and the South West region’s Members of the European Parliament and a range of bodies who are beginning to deal with the consequences of the referendum vote to leave the European Union.

“As community leaders, the council has a responsibility to ensure, as far as we are able as a local authority, that the economic, social, environmental and financial implications of this on our community and our businesses are managed well.

“This will take time, effort and resources over a number of years and much will depend on the pace and nature of the negotiations between the UK Government and the European Union.”

The plans also set out a number of actions the council will take at a local level.

These include inviting businesses throughout the district to share the effect on their businesses and supply chains, investment plans and future employment prospects.

The council said it will also work closely with its partners in the public sector, particularly the county council, GFirst Local Enterprise Partnership and the Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, to examine the impact on public sector finances affecting all local public services in the district.

SDC leaders also plan to examine how the council’s investments and long term financial prospects will be effected if funding from EU programmes is pulled.

The statement continues: “The dialogue with local businesses will start in July and continue throughout the autumn.

“We will be contacting major employers, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Stroud Businesswomen’s Network, National Farmers Union and local business chambers. “We intend carrying out the review of investments and EU funded projects by September.

“We intend bringing together all the strands of work outlined above by December 2016.

“Our community has a proud tradition of tolerance and diversity and valuing the contribution that people, from different backgrounds and from different nationalities make to our society.

“We are therefore mindful that, in some parts of the UK, both during and after the referendum campaigns, there has been an increase in the incidents of racism and hate crime.

“As community leaders, we feel it important to restate our ‘zero tolerance’ towards such crimes and we will act on any and all incidents reported to the Council working closely with the police and other community safety partners.”

The statement was signed by Labour councillor Stephen Lydon, leader of the council, Cllr Nigel Cooper, leader of the Conservative Group,Cllr Martin Whiteside leader of the Green Group and Cllr Ken Tucker leader of the Liberal Democrats.