It was moved by Councillor Blakeley and seconded by Councillor Fraser –

“(1) That this Committee recognises the important role the Board Directors of Wirral Partnership Homes (WPH), Tenants, Independent and Council Nominees play in ensuring that the business of WPH runs smoothly and that the promises made to tenants at transfer are carried out.

(2) That this Committee recognises that the Council has, and continues to work in ‘Partnership’ with WPH to deliver services to its tenants.

(3) Therefore, this Committee asks the Cabinet to reconsider its decision of 4 September 2008 (minute 186) and asks that the Council vote against the proposed changes to the Articles of Association of WPH at its Annual General Meeting on 30 September 2008.

(4) However, this Committee, in an effort to assist WPH, asks the Council to inform them that it will in principle support a change to its Articles of Association with regard to numbers and make up of constituent Directors in order for Board meetings to be quorate, and as such is prepared to reduce from two to one, the number of Council nominated Directors who have to be present at Board meetings. The Committee recognises that if this is acceptable to WPH, they can convene an EGM at relatively short notice to approve the changes.”

The motion was put and lost (3:4), Councillors Blakeley, Fraser and Pritchard voting in favour; and Councillors Doyle, McLachlan, Salter and Taylor voting against.

It was moved by Councillor McLachlan and seconded by Councillor Salter –

“That this Committee endorses Cabinet minute 186 and urges all Council members of the Wirral Partnership Homes Board to make every effort to attend and play a full part in WPH Board meetings.”

The further motion was put and carried (7:0)

At the request of the Chair, the Chief Executive of WPH agreed that should such a situation arise again, where there were no Council nominated Directors in attendance, he would report this to the Council at the earliest opportunity.

Resolved – That this Committee endorses Cabinet minute 186 and urges all Council members of the Wirral Partnership Homes Board to make every effort to attend and play a full part in WPH Board meetings.

Cabinet were advised of proposals put forward by Wirral Partnership Homes to amend its constitution and Cabinet’s endorsement was sought to those changes.

With the permission of the Chair, the Leader of the Conservative Group indicated that Wirral Partnership Homes should be requested to avoid meetings of the full Council when setting their meeting dates.

The Leader of the Council moved an amendment, duly seconded, and it was –

Resolved  That

(1)  Wirral Partnership Homes be requested to avoid meetings of the full Council when setting their meeting dates and be provided with details of the Council’s calendar of meetings; and

(2)  the Council member vote in favour of the amendments to the Articles of Association of Wirral Partnership Homes Limited.