Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Board Members.

Apologies for absence were received from Debbie Fleming, Eugine Yafele and David Richardson.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Board.

Dawn Dawson, Director of Nursing, Quality and Therapies attended as a substitute for Eugine Yafele.

Board Members are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link:-

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1

The deadline for the submission of public questions is Thursday 25 June 2020

The deadline for the submission of a statement is 12.00 noon, Wednesday 1 July 2020.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is Wednesday 17 June 2020.

There were no public issues for this meeting.

All Councils in England are required to develop and publish local outbreak management plans as part of the Government’s Contain strategy. The strategy gives a key role to local councils in responding to local outbreaks, and supporting people who have tested positive and their contacts to isolate promptly, breaking transmission of COVID-19 and minimising risks of any second peak. This paper describes the main themes in the plan, and the process being recommended for how the plans will operate in BCP Council. The plans require a local COVID-19 public engagement board, and the recommendation is that the BCP Health and Wellbeing Board takes on this function.

The Plan referred to as Appendix 1 to the report is to follow.

The Director of Public Health, presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book which advised of the requirement for all Councils in England to develop and publish local outbreak management plans as part of the Government’s Contain strategy for Covid 19 .

The Board was informed that the plan was required by the end of June 2020 and had been published.

The Director of Public Health provided context in respect of the development of the plan.  He explained that the BCP Council area was experiencing low levels of cases. The Board was advised that surveillance information from Public Health England indicated that on average there was one case per day for both pillar 1 and 2 testing.  The Director of Public Health reported that the Country was entering a new phase of the pandemic. The plan sets out how Councils working alongside Public Health England, health colleagues and other partners identify and respond to increases in numbers of cases of Covid.  The Director reported that the plan would also consider how to respond to cases in high risk settings including hospitals, care homes, schools, workplaces, supported housing and for vulnerable groups.  The Board was advised that the plan was building on work that was already being done.  The Director explained that the biggest change was the role of the Public Engagement Board.  He reported on the governance structure for the plan outlining that the role of the Officer Health Protection Board explaining that the well-established health protection network which works across Dorset would fulfil this role. The Director informed the Board of the proposal that the Health and Wellbeing Board would operate as the Public Outbreak Engagement Board.  The initial thinking was that it was necessary to be clear with the public quickly if there were any changes in the pattern of Covid cases or a significant outbreak in the BCP area. It may be necessary to communicate with the public on what we know and what actions would be taken.  In order to respond quickly the report contained a recommendation to set up a sub-group that could be called together at short notice.  In terms of the other elements of the outbreak plan the Director reported that BCP Council had been allocated £1.8 m and outlined how the funds would be used.  Other themes in the Plan included surveillance for Covid and the Director reported that data agreements would be signed to obtain richer data.  He provided assurance that the Health and Wellbeing Board would be involved as described and asked to consider what needed to be communicated. The Director reported that the public summary for the plan was published by 30 June. He explained that the longer plan included more detail including the development of action cards and protocols.

The Vice-Chairman commented on the plan which he described as comprehensive and thanked those who had pulled the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.