Agenda item

(a)  That support be given to enable the current set up to be dissolved and the new system put in place, including the appointment of a Joint Director of Public Health for East Berkshire and Frimley ICS; and

(b)  That delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Lead Member for Health & Wellbeing, to finalise and approve the partnership arrangements.

(c)  That the outgoing Director of Public Health, Tessa Lindfield, be thanked for her work in Slough, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Lead Member for Health & Wellbeing introduced a report that requested approval to proceed with developing a shared Director of Public Health role for East Berkshire, covering Slough, RBWM and Bracknell Forest.

The current position was that there was a shared Director of Public Health for the six Berkshire authorities and a shared team hosted by Bracknell Forest Council.  The Berkshire Chief Executives had started a review of the arrangements in 2019 in light of various factors including changes to the health system since the current arrangements were set up in 2013.  The single director role across Berkshire was stretched and a different model provided the opportunity of more local resource and focus.  The outcome of the review was a hub and bespoke model each in east and west Berkshire.  Slough would retain it’s local public health team and a new Director of Public Health for East Berkshire would be recruited.  The Chief Executive commented that the proposal had come forward before the Covid-19 pandemic and the past year had demonstrated the importance of strong and integration public health teams in local authorities.

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Strutton commented on the changes in leadership of Frimley Health NHS Trust.  Councillor Strutton was invited to raise any issues with these separate issues directly with the Lead Member.

At the conclusion of the discussion the recommendations were agreed.

It was noted that the current Director of Public Health, Tessa Lindfield, had already been planning to move on in the new year.  The Cabinet agreed a vote of thanks to Ms Lindfield for the work she had carried out in Slough over several years, but particularly in the past year during the pandemic.

Resolved –

(a)  That support be given to enable the current set up to be dissolved and the new system put in place, including the appointment of a Joint Director of Public Health for East Berkshire and Frimley ICS; and

(b)  That delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Lead Member for Health & Wellbeing, to finalise and approve the partnership arrangements.

(c)  That the outgoing Director of Public Health, Tessa Lindfield, be thanked for her work in Slough, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.