Committee details

Bracknell Forest Outbreak Engagement Board Terms of Reference V5

Purpose of the board

To have oversight in relation to outbreak response and provide direction and leadership for community engagement and public facing communications.

Role of the board 

1.    The role of the Board is to

·      Lead engagement with the public regarding Covid-19 risks and prevention.

·      Support the Local Outbreak Plan and the accompanying communications plan.

·      Provide ongoing oversight of the Plan’s implementation.

·      Proactively lead the communications and engagement in the event of a local incident or outbreak[1].

·      Coordinate, where appropriate, with neighbouring authorities in the event of cross/near border local outbreaks.

·      Provide political ownership of the local response.

2.    The Board will report through BFC Gold within the emergency command structure. They will have a working relationship through Gold with the East Berkshire Health Protection Board, responsible for delivery of the Outbreak Control Plan and the local Outbreak Management Cell.

Membership  

3.    The core membership consists of:

4.    In the event of a localised ward incident, attendance at the Board can be extended to include:

·           The relevant ward councillors who will have an important role in engagement and communication with their local communities.

·           Any identified local experts or community based persons with local knowledge.

·           The relevant head of service depending on the nature of the outbreak, specifically:

o    Care homes – Assistant Director, Commissioning

o    Schools – Assistant Director, Education and Learning.

·           Other Members can be co-opted as determined by the board.

·           The Chief Executive of Bracknell Forest Council and Berkshire’s Director of Public Health will have a standing invitation to attend the Board.

5.    The remaining Executive Members and Chief Executive of Bracknell Forest Council, MPs for the area and Berkshire’s Director of Public Health will have a standing invitation to attend the Board. 

Quorum

6.    Minimum of one Member and three officers.

Ways of Working

7.    All meetings will take place virtually via Teams.

Normal operation of the board

8.    The board will meet every three weeks in public. 

9.    A sample agenda is included at Appendix 1.

10.  Papers will be published 2 days in advance of any public meeting on Bracknell Forest Council’s website.  Questions can be submitted from the public 2 days in advance of the meeting and an answer will be provided, in writing if appropriate.

In the event of an outbreak:

11.  The chair, BFC officers, the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) representative, and the Executive Member for Children and Young People or Executive Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing(depending on the outbreak setting) will meet as a strategic response group daily, 7 days a week if required, to ensure full and effective liaison with the local Gold command.  The full board will meet more regularly in public as required.

12.  The agenda will be published 1 day in advance of any public meeting on Bracknell Forest Council’s website, with papers published when available.  Questions can be submitted from the public up to 1 hour in advance of the meeting and an answer will be provided, in writing if appropriate.

APPENDIX 1

Sample Agenda for Outbreak Engagement Board

1.    Apologies for Absence

2.    Declarations of Interest

3.    Urgent Items of Business

4.    Public Participation

5.    National and Local Covid-19 Status

6.    Communications and Engagement Update at a National and Local Level

7.    Review of Action Log

Date of Next Meeting