Taskforce to boost local response to coronavirus outbreak

Robert Jenrick has launched a new taskforce bringing together senior experts across sectors to tackle the outbreak of coronavirus.

The Local Government Secretary said that the taskforce will bring together senior experts from across key sectors – including resilience, local government, public health and adult social care fields – who will assess Local Resilience Forum (LRF) plans and provide support and advice to ensure they are robust. There are 38 LRFs in England which are made up of emergency services, a range of government agencies, health bodies and local authorities.

The taskforce will: analyse LRF local flu response plans; discuss support with LRF chairs for vulnerable people, and how key services could be maintained; commission a tabletop exercise in each LRF area; and examine relationships between LRFs and Local Health Partnerships to ensure they can facilitate and support cross-LRF working.

The Taskforce will be led by Andy Battle, the recently retired Assistant Chief Constable for West Yorkshire and the LRF chair for that region, and Dr Ruth Hussey CB OBE, the former Chief Medical Officer for Wales.

Jenrick said: “We all have a part to play in managing the spread of coronavirus and I am working to ensure local partners are fully equipped to play their part, too. Today I established a taskforce to support Local Resilience Forums, helping them fully prepare for a range of scenarios at a local level. This includes ensuring that LRFs have robust plans in place for helping local people and dealing with pandemic flu of all types, including coronavirus. With extensive experience, the new taskforce will provide LRFs with the capability and expertise to respond quickly and effectively.”