Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

All Members were present and no apologies were noted

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore all Members with a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

No deputation requests were received for the meeting.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman welcomed Members to the first meeting of the Board and acknowledged the work of officers in facilitating its establishment. He noted that the Board would act as a conduit between the outbreak control plan and the public.

To consider and agree a process to invite additional attendees to future Board meetings as set out in the Terms of Reference:

-       A representative of the main opposition group at the County Council.  

-       A representative of the District and Borough Councils in Hampshire.

-       A Non Executive CCG representative.

<The Chairman brought this item forward on the agenda>

The Board considered the invitation of additional attendees in accordance with the Terms of Reference.

Councillor Keith House was welcomed to the meeting as the opposition Group Leader.

The Chairman confirmed that Councillor Ken Rhatigan from Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council would represent the Hampshire District and Borough Councils and be invited to future meetings. It was furthermore confirmed that arrangements would be made for a non-executive representative of the Hampshire CCG’s to be nominated.

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health presenting the Local Outbreak Control Plan

The Local Outbreak Engagement Board received and noted the Local Outbreak Control Plan, which had been published by the deadline of 1 July 2020.

To consider a report of the Director of Public Health regarding information flows and data sharing arrangements for the Local Outbreak Engagement Board.

<The Chairman brought this item forward on the agenda>

The Local Outbreak Engagement Board considered the report of the Director of Public Health regarding information flows and data sharing arrangements.

In introducing the report, the data available regarding reported symptoms, deaths and outbreaks was highlighted. The relationship between cases and settings was outlined and the difference between incidents and outbreaks was clarified.

The Board agreed to note the content of the report and the data sources.

To receive a verbal update from the Director of Public Health on the current situation in Hampshire.

The Local Outbreak Engagement Board received a verbal update from the Director of Public Health on the current situation in Hampshire in the context of the Data Sharing Protocols report received previously.

Details were provided of the current number of cases, the number of new cases, the number cases per 100/1000 people and the comparison with neighbouring areas and with Leicester, which was experiencing a serious outbreak. Further data was provided on the numbers of daily tests versus the number of positive outcomes. It was noted that the rate of calls to 111 was monitored closely as an early warning indicator and that this had fallen recently. The number of deaths in Hampshire was also reducing and there had only been one outbreak in the past seven days.

Members welcomed the update and discussed ways in which the data could usefully be presented and shared with partners. The importance of being able to provide details of confirmed cases to manage outbreaks was emphasised. The risk of positive data encouraging complacency was noted and that it remained important to promote good hygiene.

It was agreed that detailed data should regularly be formally presented to the Board and that Board meetings should be scheduled approximately monthly.