A LOCAL authority’s plans for Brexit have revealed how schools could be destabilised in the event of a no-deal scenario.

Wrexham Council has published a report highlighting its preparations should the UK government fail to reach an agreement with the European Union (EU), as uncertainty over future trade relations continues.

It shows there is a significant risk that families from the EU will leave the county borough, which currently has a notable population of Polish and Portuguese nationals.

The authority said it could result in less pupils in schools and impact on their budgets.

Meanwhile, disruption to school meals has been identified as a lower level risk if food supplies from the continent are interrupted or UK-based firms fold or increase their costs.

The council said it could lead to school closures, but checks have established that the scenario is not a major risk at present.

In the report, council leader Mark Pritchard (Ind) said: “The council and the whole country face a great deal of uncertainty around what will, or even might, happen as a result of a no-deal Brexit, but, at the least, an extended period of disruption can be expected.

“We have to prepare contingency actions for this eventuality while avoiding unnecessary work.

“Appendix one is a preliminary risk assessment of the potential impacts of a no-deal Brexit on the people of Wrexham and on the services provided by the council.

“There are significant numbers of EU pupils in Wrexham schools with the fourth highest English as an additional language school population in Wales.

“Movement out will significantly destabilise schools is terms of ethos, budget, class structures and support.”

Cllr Pritchard said that in the short term staff would assess pupil admission numbers to monitor any change in patterns.

In relation to food supplies for schools, he added:  “Suppliers are UK-based, but food supply chains are complex and rely on imported produce to meet the product range required.

“Prices are subject to market fluctuations and could rise in line with any general food increases experienced by the UK major distributors and retailers.”

The report also warns that hate crimes towards EU nationals could increase after Brexit.

In order to combat the possibility, a regional tactical group has been set up, which is chaired by North Wales Police, with representation from local authorities.

Additional funding has also been provided by the Welsh Government to deliver activities to improve social integration.

Another area of risk noted by the council is the impact on social care if EU workers leave the country.

Cllr Pritchard said: “The department recognises that there is a potential impact on staffing levels within the care sector.

“Whilst the impact is expected to be low for support workers, there is potential for impact on nursing homes if nurses who are EU nationals leave the NHS and care home sector and Wales experiences a reduction in the number of nurses moving to work here from the EU.

“This is a potential issue in the medium to longer term.

“Information about the EU settled status scheme has been sent out to all of the care providers working with Wrexham Council.”

Members of the authority’s customers, performance, resources and governance scrutiny committee will discuss the preparations at a meeting next week.