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Agenda item
Post EU arrangements - impact and local update
11:30
Sean Dennis, Director, Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce
Kevin Boorman, Marketing and Major Projects Manager, HBC
Minutes:
Sean Dennis, Director, Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce reported that:
· The movement into Brexit has not been as problematic as predicted, although there have been a few isolated cases with specific concerns, including a wholesaler/importer which is possibly looking at ceasing trading
· The other key issue that is known is around freight, which there are two aspects to: 1) the increasing cost of containers and physically importing product into the country, and 2) the time taking for product to come into the country, which does not seem to be restricted solely to the EU
· Reports are being received that the new paperwork processes and procedures are causing difficulties and delays in transporting products to and from the EU, although this also seems to be happening globally. Often there are 2-3 week delays in products arriving in the country. It is hoped these constraints will improve over time
· Feedback received from local businesses is still mainly around the impacts of COVID-19 lockdown and it is hoped that there will be more announcements regarding support to businesses in the Chancellor’s budget statement on Wednesday
Kevin Boorman, Marketing and Major Projects Manager at HBC added that:
· There were concerns at one point that the Kent permit was going to be a major issue, particular with vehicles coming along the south coast, but these did not materialise
· The export of seafood has been a problem in other parts of the country, but not in Hastings. The product is exported from Hastings Fishmarket, via Chapman’s in Rye. Not a single consignment has failed to get through to Europe, thanks to very close working between the fishing fleet, Chapman’s, the council and Rother District Council and which is a really positive story
· Even without COVID-19, there had been concerns about the impact of the exit from the EU. COVID-19 has affected the international tourism market and if the UK is seen to be a COVID-19 hotspot, there will be long term impacts on tourism and its recovery. Around 20% of annual tourism spend comes from overseas and this has been lost this year
· It is hoped events may be able to take place late in the Summer, which is a positive as it was expected that events would not be allowed
· There is still some confusion around accommodation and what can and cannot be done. Most hotels, guesthouses and camping and caravan sites were hoping to be open by Easter, but it now looks like they will not be able to open until May
Marc Turczanski updated that from a client facing perspective, COVID-19 has delayed the impact on the workforce. The points-based system has now come in and anyone arriving in the UK from the EU for work purposes has lost the freedom of movement rights that they had prior to this. The next deadline is the end of June, where the interim arrangements for anybody from the EU who is in the UK will be required to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Clients are being supported as much as possible, although COVID-19 seems to have delayed the impact.
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