No plans have been developed to deal with the impact of Brexit in Bromley, the council has said.

The UK is set to leave the EU next year, and authorities across the country have been monitoring the negotiations with Brussels, with some developing plans to deal with a no-deal outcome.

With so many unknowns, it has not been uncommon for local councils to develop Brexit impact assessments into how they would deal with a volatile economy or potential budget pressures.

Councils such as Bristol have been planning behind the scenes to deal with the impacts of a no-deal, even going as far to prepare for “social unrest” depending on how we leave.

Southwark Council has set up a panel headed up by a cabinet member for Brexit.

In response to a freedom of information request, Bromley Council said it has no such plans, and has no intention to spend money developing one.

Colin Smith, leader of the council, said a the council holds reserves for unforeseen emergences “if and when they emerge”.

Cllr Smith said: “Reserves incidentally which would already have been exhausted had we listened to the siren voice of others, imploring us to spend them over the course of the past eight years, rather than take the extremely difficult decisions we have had to, to balance the council’s book despite ongoing cuts and significantly reduced budgets from central Government.

“Which means with regards to Brexit, the situation is that when we leave, in the unlikelihood that any need arises, we have finances in place to address any problems as they arise.

“It really isn’t rocket science and I’m not immediately clear why you would need to waste council officers’ time and council taxpayers’ money at avoidable expense, writing committee reports to arrive at that conclusion.”

Like much of the rest of the capital, Bromley voted to remain in the EU, narrowly beating the leave campaign’s 90,034 votes.

Bromley Council rejected calls for a People’s Vote on the referendum at a full council meeting last month, with the leader saying it was not a matter for the council to involve itself in.

Nationally, some councils have lobbied for more help from Westminster to avoid “local economic shocks” in the event of a no-deal Brexit, according to the Local Government Association.

According to a LGA report there are concerns councils are being kept in the dark over Brexit.

The report explains: “Much of the Government’s preparations on Brexit is being undertaken through confidential meetings.

“While it is by no means the case that these confidential meetings will provide all the information and answers that councils need, it is clearly unhelpful that not all councils are able to access information and we are aware of a number of instances where councils have sought information but information remains confidential.

“This is hampering efforts by councils to prepare for Brexit and needs to be reviewed.”