Councillor Tony Jones, having declared a pecuniary interest in this item, remained outside of the meeting.

Councillor Andrew Hodson, as Vice-Chair, took the position of Chair.

Phil McCourt, the Director of Law and Governance, introduced this report which recommended the arrangements by which the Council was represented on the Policy Board of the Wirral Growth Company Limited Liability Partnership. There were four appointments to be made to the Policy Board, two of which had been occupied by officers, those being the Director of Children’s Services and the Director of Resources.

Member debated the implications of having four officer appointments so that all Members could be involved in discussion rather than having to declare an interest and leaving a meeting during any such discussion. This would allow Members to fully scrutinise decisions made. Members felt that it was a decision which should be passed to the Policy and Resources Committee to make whilst discussions took place within groups and with Political Group Leaders.

Resolved –

That Policy and Resources Committee are requested to:

(1)   approve that the officers holding the post for the time being of Assistant Director Finance and Investment and the Director of Children Families and Education continue to be the Council’s officer appointments to the Board of the Wirral Growth Company Limited Liability Partnership and that those persons (and their successors) remain so appointed until they resign, are removed by subsequent decision or until they cease to hold such post as officer of the Council; and

(2)   consider whether Members should be appointed to the Board and discussions take place in the meantime within the political groups and with group leaders.