Preparing local government for 1 January 2021
Guidance to help local councils get ready for 1 January 2021.
This guidance has been withdrawn
The Brexit transition period has ended and new rules now apply. This page has been withdrawn because it’s out of date.
You can also get a personalised list of the other actions you need to take.
This page brings together guidance and information to help local authorities prepare for 1 January 2021.
You can check what else you may need to do to prepare by answering the questions on the transition checker.
Citizens and businesses can also be directed to the checker to receive a personalised list of actions and sign up for email updates.
Chief executives were also sent a letter setting out the key changes which will be needed by 1 January 2021 and the resources available to help local authorities prepare for the end of the transition period.
A local communications toolkit which can support you with communicating with citizens and businesses about the end of the transition period is also available.
MHCLG sends a daily Local Government Bulletin (Monday to Friday) with updates on the latest government guidance, advice, communications products and other useful information about coronavirus (COVID-19), EU transition and other topics of interest for local government.
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Access to public services
Children’s services, schools and education
- Guidance for local authority children’s services during the transition period and after 1 January 2021
- Guidance for schools during the transition period and after 1 January 2021
- Guidance for providers of further education and apprenticeships during the transition period and after 1 January 2021
- Guidance for higher education providers during the transition period and after 1 January 2021
Community engagement
The EU Settlement Scheme
- The Local authority introduction to the EU Settlement Scheme includes a number of useful resources for local councils, including:
- ID document scanner locations
- Information about the Assisted Digital Service
- Translations of communications and guidance
- A list of organisations funded to provide support to vulnerable and at risk EU citizens applying to the EU Settlement Scheme
- A postcode checker to help identify support provided by these organisations locally
- Looked-after children and care leavers guidance
- EU Settlement Scheme statistics
Health and social care
Points based immigration system
- New immigration system: what you need to know
- UK points-based immigration system: employer information
- UK points-based immigration system: further details
Ports and borders
Regulatory services
- Import of products, animals, food and feed system (IPAFFS)
- UK product safety and metrology from 1 January 2021
- Food labelling changes from 1 January 2021
- Guidance on the health and identification marks that apply from 1 January 2021 (and using the new identification mark early)
- Listing of establishments (including registered cold stores that form part of single supply chain) to export products of animal origin to the EU or move such products to Northern Ireland
- EU trade mark protection and comparable UK trade marks from 1 January 2021
- Find a professional to certify export health certificates
- Training for environmental health staff, port health officers and trading standards officers on food sampling
- Training for environmental health staff, port health officers and trading standards officers on imported food controls
- Training for official fish inspectors
Food Standards Agency updates for local authorities on the EU transition can be found on FSA Smarter Communications.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a new digital guide covering the key actions food and drink businesses may need to take after the end of the transition period from 1 January 2021.
Statutory instruments which have been laid and identified as having impacts on local authorities are listed on a separate page: EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 secondary legislation laid with impacts on local government. A full list of related secondary legislation can be found on the government legislation site. Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) have produced guidance for councils on EU exit Secondary Legislation
Information for Food Competent Certifying Officers (FCCO)
- Export Health Certificate Online guidance for certifiers
- Export Health Certificate form finder
- Risk Based Fish Export Certification guidance
- Export Health Certification for Products of Animal Origin Away from the Premises of Origin (Logistic Hubs)
- Groupage Export Facilitation Scheme (GEFS)
- Information on Certification Support Officers (CSO)
- Export fish to the EU from 1 January 2021
- Export or move live animals and animal products to the EU from 1 January 2021
- Export composite food products to the EU from 1 January 2021
- Food and drink labelling changes from 1 January 2021
- Guidance on health and identification marks that applies from 1 January 2021
- Listing of establishments to export products of animal origin to the EU or move such products to Northern Ireland
A recorded webinar is available with information for certifiers (FCCOs) including details about Export Health Certificates (EHCs) and a demonstration of EHC Online – the digital service that businesses and certifiers will use to apply for and manage EHC applications.
Webinar with information for certifiers (FCCOs)
Internal operations
Council employees
- Workplace rights from 1 January 2021
- EU Settlement Scheme: employers toolkit
- Right to work checks on EU citizens
- UK points-based immigration system: employer information
Data
MHCLG has produced interim guidance on data adequacy that was sent to chief executives of all local authorities in England on 9 October 2020. This guidance was shared with Devolved Administrations.
MHCLG may issue further guidance between now and December when the outcome of negotiations with the EU regarding GDPR adequacy become clearer.
Local Elections
EU citizens resident in the UK remain eligible to vote, and stand – if qualified in all other respects - in the local elections on 6 May 2021. This applies to all local polls that day: both postponed and re-scheduled polls and those polls ordinarily scheduled to take place on that day.
EU citizens resident in the UK and elected to office in a 6 May 2021 election or before then are able to serve the full term for which they have been elected, if qualified in all other respects. These arrangements apply regardless of their settled / non-settled status.
Lords Minister of State for the Cabinet Office Lord True confirmed this position in his response to a Parliamentary Question on 10 July 2020.
Procurement
- Public-sector procurement under the EU Withdrawal Agreement
- Public-sector procurement from 31 January 2020
Waste
Contingency planning
- Local resilience forums: contact details
- Local authorities’ preparedness for civil emergencies
- Guide to local authority mutual aid
- Central government concept of operations – chapter 5
- Business continuity advice
Regional leads
A network of 9 local authority chief executives from across England has been established to engage with councils in their regions to share information on their transition preparations.
- South East: Becky Shaw (West and East Sussex County Councils)
- London: John O’Brien (London Councils)
- East of England: Richard Carr (Central Bedfordshire Council)
- South West: Phil Norrey (Devon County Council), Graham Farrant (BCP Council) and Dave Perry (South Gloucestershire Council)
- East Midlands: Anthony May (Nottinghamshire County Council)
- West Midlands: Nick Page (Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council)
- Yorkshire and Humber: Tom Riordan (Leeds City Council)
- North West: Tony Reeves (Liverpool City Council)
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North East: Terry Collins (Durham County Council) and Pat Ritchie (Newcastle City Council)
Last updated 10 December 2020 + show all updates
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Added a section of Information for Food Competent Certifying Officers (FCCO) and a link to the food and drink digital guide.
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Added links to the transition checker on gov.uk and updated links under access to public services, health and social care and regulatory services.
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First published.