CPA Bulletin

12 CPA Bulletin > November 2020 www.cpa.uk.net In a normal year, politics would be defined and dominated by the UK’s departure from the EU, withminds focussed on the end of December, when the transition period concludes and the UK leaves the single market and the customs union. However, as everyone knows, this is no normal year. With the COVID-19 pandemic dominating every move by government, it would be easy to forget that Brexit is still just as important in terms of its impact on our economy and future prospects, as well as the future direction of the country as awhole. As I write this article, we are 80 days away from December 31st. January 1st sees the UK enter whatever trading arrangements are finalised (or not) by the EU and UK government in the coming weeks. It is vital CPA members are prepared and aware of the potential impacts the end of transition means for the construction plant-hire industry and how they operate their businesses. In a year when government policy has changed and moved at an ever increasingly rapid rate, nothing can be guaranteed, however as the negotiations continue and thoughts turn to the UK’s future outside of the EU, the government is asking companies to begin focussing in greater detail on how Brexit will affect their operations and what they need to do to prepare for the likely changes ahead. There are a host of Brexit related information sources available for companies, alongside guides and webinars that companies can sign up to. Before anything is agreed and deals are signed between both sides, there are several important dates to be aware of in the weeks ahead that will ultimately determine what happens in 2021. 15th - 16th October The European Council meets. By the time you read this, we might have a deal already as this (in theory) is where we see if the UK gets a deal or decides to leave the transition period without one. However - there is always room for manoeuvre and while the December 31st date is set in stone, other key dates are moveable - especially, increasingly, this one. 30th October The absolute latest for a deal to be agreed. Probably - this is also movable. The EU needs in theory, two months to get any agreement ratified by all 27 member states and the UK government needs to get Parliament to approve. But schedules slip and room can be found if there is a deal to be agreed, to ratify it - especially if both sides are close enough. 31st December Final day of transition period - at midnight, our membership of the single market and customs union will end and whatever set of rules and trading relationship we have agreed (or not) with the EU, comes into effect on January 1st. It is important to bear in mind that both sides in the negotiations want a deal. There has been intense political debate about what the deal looks like and how the UK government has gone about it, but fundamentally, a deal has always been the stated aim of both sides. In recent weeks there has been a degree of movement and positivity from both sides, however this is only a start. There are still concerns about fishing rights for EU countries in UK waters, and how the UK government will apply state aid. These issues need to be overcome and soon if a deal is to be agreed. Politically, the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact means the appetite for a no deal scenario - even from leading euro-sceptic Conservative backbenchers, has shrunk in recent months. It is up to the politicians to make sure they can meet these goals and ensure a deal is reached. Current sources of information available on Brexit and business guidance Government Transition website The most obvious and readily updated source of information is the government’s own transition website and hub at www.gov.uk/ transition . This has been designed under a three-tiered system: 1. Check - do the new rules and regulations apply to me? 2. Change - get ready to implement them and make sure your business is ready 3. Go - start 2021 under the new rules The website is for both individuals and businesses and is designed to provide the user with further information on how Brexit might impact themselves and the steps they need to take to get ready. We recommend members to check in regularly with this website and sign up to the newsletter for the very latest information. Construction Leadership Council (CLC) Brexit guidance and working group The CLC has formed a Brexit working group which will focus on key areas and issues that are likely to impact on the construction sector. The working group is split across the following four workstreams and areas: • Movement of People: preparing for the new immigration rules, accessing alternative labour supply and reciprocal arrangements on skills and qualifications in new trade deals. • Movement of Goods and Materials: preparing for the new customs regime, guidance on WTO rules in the event of no agreement with the EU and alternative sourcing opportunities in the rest of the world and the domestic market. • Standards and Alignment: guidance on the Construction Products POLICY: 1 POLICY Brexit - Prepare for the unprecedented?