The Committee considered a report of the Cheshire East Borough Solicitor on procedural matters relating to co-option, meeting venues and the appointment of Chair, Vice Chair and Spokesperson for 2010 – 2011.

The Committee’s Procedural Rules made provision for co-option as follows:

“The Joint Committee may choose to co-opt other appropriate individuals, in a non-voting capacity, to the Committee or for the duration of a particular review or scrutiny”.

The Committee had previously resolved to co-opt one Local Involvement Network (LINk) representative from the LINks’ Mental Health Sub Group.  However, the mid point meeting had subsequently been made aware that, contrary to previous expectation, such a Sub Group was unlikely to be formed for some time. The mid point meeting had therefore reviewed the position and concluded that rather than formally co-opt a LINk representative onto the Committee, a representative from the relevant LINk should be invited to attend the Committee for consideration of specific items of business and/or onto any Task/Finish Groups where appropriate. Discussions were on-going with officers of the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) regarding service user/carer contributions to the Committee.

The Committee noted that meeting dates had previously been agreed and discussed venues and start times. It was agreed that most meetings would commence at 2.30pm and venues would be rotated with further discussion at the mid point meeting of specific details.

The Procedural Rules provided that the Chair and Vice Chair should be appointed annually from the elected Members of the Committee and the Chair should be held by one authority and the Vice Chair from another, the Authority that did not hold either of these positions would elect a Spokesperson.

Resolved – That,

(a) the previous decision of the Committee to offer one co-opted place to a representative of the LINks Mental Health Sub Group be not pursued on the basis that the Sub Group is not yet in being;

(b) as the Joint Committee meets in different venues, a representative of the relevant local LINk be invited to attend each meeting with the right to speak (and the Joint Committee’s Procedural Rules be amended accordingly);

(c) all LINks be notified of the dates and venues for the forthcoming year’s meetings, and be supplied with an electronic copy of the agenda for each meeting;

(d) the option to co-opt LINk representatives to Task and Finish Scrutiny Review Groups in a non-voting capacity be noted;

(e) further discussions take place with officers of CWP through the Mid Point meeting concerning Service Users and Carers representation;

(f) the venues for the Joint Committee’s meetings for the forthcoming year be approved as follows:

   - Monday 12 July, Capesthorne Room, Macclesfield Town Hall;

   - Monday 4 October, Chester or Ellesmere Port;

   - Monday 10 January, Winsford Lifestyle Centre;

   - Monday 4 April, Committee Room 1, Wallasey Town Hall

with a start time of 2.30 pm subject to the Mid Point meeting considering an earlier start for the January meeting and agreeing the venue for the October meeting;

(g) the position concerning the appointment of Chair and Vice Chair and the notification of Spokesperson for the forthcoming year be noted.