EHJ June 2005, pages 14-15

Naturally, there are questions about proposals before the AGM to change the CIEH centre and branch structure. EHJ explains the changes and puts questions about the restructuring to the chair of the review taskforce, Les Milne

CENTRE AND BRANCHES

• From 1 January 2006, the existing centres will be replaced by a new structure based on Greater London, the eight English regions, Wales and Northern Ireland (see right).
• Existing branches will be retained until 31 December 2007. The structure after that will be determined and agreed with regional membership in a business plan.
• Each regional structure will support members on a more local basis to be determined by each region.
• A Regional management board (RMB) will manage each region.
• Each RMB will be made up of CIEH council members elected by the region and others as determined by the region. People must be appointed to be secretary, treasurer and chair.
• Interim RMBs will operate until December 2007. They will be made up of the members of existing centre councils, members elected to council in 2005 who wish to be members of the interim RMB plus members of the council in 2006, elected by the region. Other members can be appointed by the interim RMB.
• The function of RMBs is to empower members in the region by identifying and meeting their needs.
• From July 2007 each RMB will produce an annual business plan outlining how it will meet member needs in the following year.
• RMB to hold (at least) one annual meeting of the regional group at which it can consult members on its proposed business plan.
• RMBs will receive paid support to produce and implement business plans.
• All CIEH members will join a region from 1 January 2006.
• Overseas members and members in Scotland will be asked to nominate a region.
• From July 2005 a full-time member of the secretariat will be available to support the interim management boards.

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS

• National special interest groups (SIGs) will be set up where the needs of those members cannot be met in individual regions.
• Any 50 members can petition council for establishment of a SIG outlining why members needs cannot be met by a region.
• SIGs will receive the same funding and access to paid support as the regions.
• The port health centre and the commercial and industrial centre will operate as SIGs from 1 January 2006.
• Members of these SIGs will be allocated to a region from 1 January 2006.
• From July 2007, SIGs will plan to meet the needs of its members through an annual business plan.
• Each SIG will have a management board (MB). Its composition will be determined by SIG members.
• Interim MB will operate for two years until 31 December 2007.

COUNCIL

• From 1 January 2006 council will comprise of 30 members.
• Each region will elect two members to council.
• The eight regions with the highest number of paid up members on 31 December of the previous calendar year will elect three members to council.
• Council members are required to ensure that the CIEH meets its charitable objectives and operates within the law.
• Council members will be elected for three years.
• One third of the council to be elected each year.

EHJ: The existing centre and branch structure works well. Members are concerned the new proposals will change this.

Les Milne: Under the proposed new system all of the new regions will have a regional management board. One of the roles of the board will be to consult with CIEH members on what services they would like locally. If the existing centre and branch is working well then the board can maintain the status quo. The aim of the restructure is to provide support for members where there is currently none and to enhance existing support.

EHJ: What if an individual's needs are not the same as the majority membership in the new larger branch?

LM: Regions are being encouraged to organise themselves into sub groups in a way that best meets the needs of members. No "one size fits all" is proposed, but each region will be able to produce its own bespoke structures. These may be in the form of local branches, study groups or technical committees.

EHJ: Under the old structure branch activity was often depended on the energy of key members. When they moved on the branch would sometimes become inactive. Does the new structure address this?

LM: Under the new approach it will be the responsibility of the regional boards (with paid support) to ensure members continue to receive good service from the CIEH locally, regardless of whether an active member has stood down.

EHJ:The proposed regions are geographically very large. The south west region stretches from Penzance to Swindon. Will members have to travel large distances to attend meetings?

LM: It will be the responsibility of the management boards to ensure that meetings take place in convenient locations. Local branches will also be set up to cover more local initiatives. Regionalisation also allows for the sharing of resources and experience across a larger area. This means that services and events can be rolled out in different locations without re inventing the wheel.

EHJ: Does this mean there is a danger that some people living in a region will receive a poorer service from the CIEH just because of where they live.

LM: No, it is the job of the regional boards and the CIEH secretariat to ensure that all members receive the support they need regardless of where they live.

EHJ: The recent "no" vote in the North East against a regional assembly could spell the end of regional government. Why is the CIEH therefore basing this restructure on the regions?

LM: The "no" vote just means that there will not be democratic elections for assemblies. In most other respects the government is going ahead with the regional delivery of services. This is particularly the case for environmental health. The Health and Safety Executive, the Food Standards Agency and the Health Protection Agency are all working on a regional model, as are primary care trusts. Mainly due to the European Union the government is also providing funding for public health initiatives through the regions. The lack of democratically elected assemblies will not change any of this.

EHJ: What if the members of a regional management board lack the business acumen to put together a good business plan? Does that mean that region will receive less funding?

LM: Under the existing structure all centres access a per capita sum regardless of how active or efficient they are. Under the new structure a minimum amount of funding will be allocated to each region to ensure the running of the management board. Then a per capita sum will be allocated to ensure a minimum service to each member. On top of this, regions and special interest groups will be able to bid for specific projects or services they wish to provide.

EHJ: Will non-board members of a region be able to have input on the development of a business plan?

LM: The allocation of funds at local level will be considered at an annual meeting of the region where business plans will be considered. The regional management board will present an annual report on their activities along with a draft action plan for the subsequent year. Before the plan is finalised members should comment on action plans and the activity of the management board.

EHJ: Where is the money coming from to provide paid support to the regional centres? Does this mean fees will be rising or will members have to pay more for CPD events?

LM: It will be up to the membership, through the regional membership boards, to decide events should be free or subsidised. In some areas members pay a nominal fee for weekend schools, other areas may want to adopt such an idea. Paid support will not be funded by increased membership subscription fees.

EHJ: The formation of specialist interest groups are causing concern. Can you reassure readers that an SIG's on, say, food, will not end up becoming an exclusive group unwilling to share knowledge with the rest of the membership.

LM: It is not expected that SIGs will replace local technical groups. Indeed part of the requirement for setting up an SIG will be that a particular need cannot be met at a local level. Mainstream environmental health subjects such as food, pollution and housing will be provided on a local basis and so will not require an SIG.

EHJ: Can you give an example of an SIG?

LM: The port health SIG is a good example. A large number of CIEH members work in port health and are dispersed around the country. However, in each region they are a minority. So regional centres would not be able to provide adequate specialist training and back up. It makes sense for port health members to be able to access support through an SIG, as well as being regional members.

EHJ: How many SIGs do you expect to be set up?

LM: Very few, we hope almost all members' needs will be met locally.