CIVIC chiefs will next week get a chance to look at Hampshire’s plan for Brexit, just a few month ahead of the country's official leaving date.

In a report to be presented at the county council’s next Cabinet meeting, on December 10, members will discuss what impacts leaving the European Union (EU) will have on the county.

The UK is set to leave on March 29, and the authority’s report will look at the effects of a Brexit outcome both with and without a deal.

But this comes less than a week after opposition councillors blasted a decision by the authority not to let a motion on Brexit be heard during a council meeting.

Some Liberal Democrat councillors even claimed it to be “unconstitutional” and “cowardly”.

Moved by Liberal Democrat Councillor Gavin James at Full Council meeting, the motion asked for the county council to back a call against central government plans for a ‘Hard’ Brexit and for a ‘People’s Vote’ – which is demanding that Westminster gives the public a final say on the Brexit divorce bill.

But, just after Chairman Councillor Elaine Still asked Cllr James if he wished to proceed with his motion, leader Councillor Roy Perry stepped in to stop it being debated in the chamber. Instead he used powers to have it “moved to the executive”, citing that the Full Council meeting was not the “right time nor place for this debate”.

This then triggered a vote, with Conservative members voting with their leader to have the issue instead heard at the next cabinet meeting instead. The vote ended 49 for to 19 against, with three abstentions.

However, emotions soured.

Councillor Adrian Collett, member for Yateley East and Blackwater, said during the vote: “I move against this travesty. I am ashamed in this county council", with Councillor Mike Thornton, member for Bishopstoke and Fair Oak, adding: “I am shocked and horrified [by this decision].”

Explaining his decision, Cllr Perry said after the meeting: “This motion was simply an effort by the Liberal Democrats to use the county council for their own political purposes.

“There was no point in debating it because it is up to Parliament, not Hampshire County Council, to determine the terms of Britain’s departure from the European Union (EU)."

Regarding the county's report, he added: “That report will cover [several topics, including] the staffing implications for Hampshire County Council.

“Then there are just issues if there were absolutely no [Brexit] deal, like medicine, pharmaceutical. We have a number of elderly people in care [across the county] and we need to make sure that we have all the facilities available for them."

It comes as the fourth of five days of debate in the Commons gets underway, as Prime Minister Theresa May tries to push through her Brexit plan.