Members are asked to consider whether they have personal or prejudicial interests in connection with the item on this agenda and, if so, to declare it and state what it is.

Members of the Committee were requested to declare whether they had an interest, either personal or prejudicial, in any item on the agenda and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

No such declarations were made.

The public may be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information.

Resolved - That, under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act.

The Director of Law, HR and Asset Management submitted a report which sought the Committee’s approval for the release of the Chief Executive on 30 September 2010 under the Council’s Early Voluntary Retirement (‘EVR’) scheme. He advised Members that his report had been presented late as it had not been finalised until the day of the meeting. The Chair accepted this and agreed to its consideration by the Committee.

The Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development presented the report and indicated that the requirements for authorisation of EVR for any employee were based upon regard for all the circumstances, including the best interests of the Council and that any additional pension costs to the Council could be contained within existing budgets. She set out the staffing and financial implications set out in the report and referred also to interim management arrangements that were proposed to be put in place. She advised that if the Committee approved the EVR of the Chief Executive, then the M37 Application for Early Retirement Form would be signed by the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management, the Director of Finance and the Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development.

In response to a question from the Leader of the Council, the Director of Finance reported that he had discussed the matter with the District Auditor. The Director had confirmed that the additional pension costs would be met from savings and expressed the view that the proposal would probably meet the Audit Commission’s requirements.

On a Motion by Councillor Green and seconded by Councillor Foulkes, it was unanimously –

Resolved –

(1)  That the Early Voluntary Retirement of the Chief Executive on 30 September 2010, on the terms set out in the report, be approved.

(2)  That it be a recommendation to the Council that the Deputy Chief Executive be appointed to the position of Interim Chief Executive for up to nine months.

(3)  That the Head of Strategic Development be appointed to the post of Interim Director of Corporate Services with effect from 10 September 2010, for up to nine months.

(4)  That the thanks and best wishes of the Committee be accorded to Stephen Maddox in recognition of his contribution to Wirral as Chief Executive for 12 years, with 35 years continuous service in local government.