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Community and Public Health Advisory Committee: Terms of Reference

1.0 COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD

1.1 The Community and Public Health Advisory Committee is a Committee of the Board of Capital and Coast DHB established in terms of section 34 of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act (the Act). These Terms of Reference are supplementary to the provisions of the Act and Schedule 4 to the Act and are effective from 2 February 2008.

2.0 FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE

2.1 In terms of clause 2 of schedule 4 to the Act, the functions of the Committee are to give the Board advice on:

a) the needs, and any factors that the Committee believes may adversely affect the health status, of the resident population of the DHB;

b) and priorities for use of the health funding provided.

2.2 The aim of the Committee’s advice must be to ensure that the following maximise the overall health gain for the population served by Capital and Coast DHB:

• all service interventions the DHB has provided or funded or could provide or fund for the care of that population; and
• all policies the DHB has adopted or could adopt for the care of that population.

2.3 The Committee’s advice may not be inconsistent with the New Zealand Health Strategy. The Committee will take account of sections 22, 23 and 26 of the Act in carrying out its functions.

2.4 The Committee shall review these terms of reference from time to time and gain Board approval on any changes required. Detailed Objectives and Accountabilities for the committee appear in the schedule to these terms of reference.

3.0 DELEGATED POWERS

3.1 The Committee does not have any additional delegated Board powers or functions.

4.0 MEMBERSHIP AND PROCEDURE

4.1 Membership of the Committee and all matters of procedure are provided for in Schedule 4 to the Act together with the Board Meeting Guidelines. Membership of the committee shall be determined by the Board from time to time. The committee shall consist of:

• up to three, non-executive Board members and
• up to six independent non-Board members where the required skills are not available from existing Board members.
• Committee members from the Board itself should have a background that is compatible with committee’s duties.

4.2 Committee appointments shall be approved annually (or more frequently if required). The Chairperson of the committee shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the Board. The Board Chair and Board Deputy Chair shall be alternate ex officio members of the committee.

4.3 Matters of procedure shall be provided for by the Act and the Board and Committee Standing Orders adopted by the Board. A quorum is a majority of committee members.

4.4 The committee shall meet bi-monthly except where circumstances require more frequent meetings.

4.5 The committee shall review, discuss and assess its own performance as well as the committee role and responsibilities, seeking input from senior DHB management, the full Board and others. Changes in role and/or responsibilities, if any, shall be recommended to the full Board for approval.

4.6 The committee will be serviced and fully supported by a person engaged as secretary for this purpose by the Chief Executive. The secretary will be competent to provide normal secretarial duties as well as liaison and related activities to ensure that the committee is able to fulfil its functions.

5.0 ACCESS

5.1 The Committee members will have access to all DHB information to assist them to execute their duties, obligations and accountabilities. All information remains the property of the DHB and will be used for lawful purpose.

Information governed by privacy legislation, including information relating to personal health record will not be available to Committee members except with the express authorisation of the Committee Chairperson, the Chairperson of the Board, and the Chief Executive. Committee members shall disclose and resolve any conflicts of interest as soon as they become aware of them.

The Chief Executive will ensure all information requests are handled in a timely manner (in consultation with the person making the request). The committee is empowered to call for reports from management and, with the prior consent of the Board, to take independent advice.

6.0 REPORTING BY THE COMMITTEE

6.1 Minutes of committee meetings shall be available to the DHB Board with any recommendation.

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