A prominent politician says new post-Brexit trade rules could help independent businesses grow and create jobs in Burton and Uttoxeter.

Richard Grosvenor, leader of East Staffordshire Borough Council, says EU red tape stops his authority using small firms from the area for goods and services.

Current rules mean the council has to advertise its contracts to companies from other EU member states.

With the value of the pound having plummeted since the referendum last year, continental trade forecasts have been far from positive.

But Councillor Grosvenor hopes Brexit will enable the public sector to boost the economy closer to home.

East Staffordshire Borough Council leader Richard Grosvenor

The Tory councillor said: "During the EU referendum debate a big selling factor in people voting to leave the EU was the ability to 'take back decision making'.

"In their negotiations over the terms of our departure I am hopeful that the government recognises that this also means decision making coming down to a local level.

"Procurement is a clear example of that. As a council that strives to concentrate on local services and give contract opportunities to small and medium-sized enterprises within the boundaries of the strict regime of the EU procurement process, any flexibility to make local decisions to improve the local economy would be welcomed.

"It is something we have sought to do more frequently in recent times but have been bound by this EU legislation."

Councillor Grosvenor's comments come after Local Government Authority bosses released a statement urging simpler post-Brexit rules regulation how councils buy goods and services.

Officials said they believed a predicted "lighter touch" system would boost growth and create jobs.

An LGA spokesman said: "The current process sometimes sits uneasily with supporting the local economy.

"The EU process can also take between three and 18 months – twice as long as typical private sector procurements.

"Almost no public contracts end up being awarded to companies in other EU member states.

"Only 20 per cent of English councils receive EU expressions of interest from companies based in other EU countries.

"Across Europe, only 1.6 per cent of public contracts are awarded to companies in other member states."

Councils in England collectively spend £55 billion per year on goods and services.

Kevin Bentley, chairman of the LGA’s Brexit "task and finish group", said: "The UK’s exit from the EU will have a significant impact on local government, creating challenges that need to be addressed but also opportunities to do things differently.

"The way councils spend money has a huge bearing on local growth and job creation.

"But EU rules over how they buy goods and services can stifle those efforts and take up time and money.

"Regulation of public procurement will clearly continue to be necessary when we leave the EU to allow councils to continue to demonstrate best value for money and ensure effective and fair competition.

"But introducing more local flexibility and easier procurement rules after Brexit would provide more community benefits and more growth opportunities for small and medium enterprises.

"It would also allow councils to promote local suppliers and local labour and ensure workers earn a decent wage."