WILTSHIRE Council will not carry out a risk assessment into the impact of Brexit, after the authority leader said it would be best to “wait and see” what the effects are.

The council opposition called for an urgent, comprehensive and cross-party Brexit risk and impact assessment for all council services at a meeting on Tuesday, after a Freedom of Information request showed Wiltshire Council had not held any specific meetings to discuss the UK leaving the EU.

A motion put forward by Liberal Democrat leader Ian Thorn said the authority had an obligation to residents to ensure “the short and long term effect on our services and the local economy resulting from Brexit are mitigated and managed”.

In his motion, Cllr Thorn raised concerns that the recruitment and retainment of workers in social care provision for children and adults had significantly worsened since 2016 when the Brexit vote took place.

The bid to create a cross party group has already been approved by Devon Council and Cllr Thorn is hoping that Wiltshire will now follow suit.

He said: “It seems extraordinary that no attempt has been made to deal with whatever implications Brexit will have. Whether it’s a no deal, Chequers deal or some others deal the impact will be significant.”

“We have a responsibility to our residents and to our families and loved ones that the quality of these services is maintained and they are provided cost effectively.”

But Conservative leader Jane Scott said it was “too early” to discuss Brexit plans as they have not yet been finalised by central government.

“What we need to do as a council, in my opinion, is to wait,” she said. “Wait and see what the outcomes of the negotiations are and be ready as a council to move swiftly and quickly. It’s going to take a long time for any effects to come to light.”

The council voted against the motion by 56 to 18.

Taking to Twitter Cllr Thorn wrote: “Still struggling to grasp the remarkable complacency of Wiltshire Council Tories over their it’ll be alright on the night attitude to Brexit. Their strategy seems to be cover their ears and sing la,la,la as loudly as possible.”

But Conservative cabinet member for finance Philip Whitehead responded saying the council did not reject carrying out a risk assessment, but it did “reject wasting £20k on a premature symposium before we even know the details of Brexit”.