Members are asked to consider whether they have personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they are.

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.

RECOMMENDED –

That in accordance with section 100A (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 the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to that Act. The public interest test has been applied and favours exclusion.

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 items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to that Act.The public interest test had been applied and favoured exclusion.

Report of the Director of Law, HR and Asset Management to be circulated separately

The Interim Chief Executive submitted a report which sought the Committee’s approval for the release of the Director of Adult Social Services under the Council’s Early Voluntary Retirement scheme. He also outlined the interim arrangements which could be put in place if the EVR was approved.

The Leader of the Labour Group suggested that the interim period needed to be used to find the best suitable candidate to fill this statutory post.

Members of the Committee expressed their sadness at John Webb’s decision to retire and their appreciation of his commitment to improving the service on Wirral. The Chair concurred and referred to the very good working relationships he had established and fostered with the health service, public health and the voluntary sector.

Resolved –

(1) That the Early Voluntary Retirement of the Director of Adult Social Services on 31 October, 2010 on the terms set out in the report, be approved.

(2) That the Director of Children’s Services, Mr H Cooper, be appointed to the position of Interim Director of Adult Social Services from 1 November, 2010 for up to nine months.

(3) That the Head of Planning and Resources, Mr David Armstrong, be appointed to the position of Interim Director of Children’s Services from 1 November, 2010 for up to nine months.

(4) That this Committee supports a rigorous appointments process to be embarked upon to ensure that the best possible candidate is appointed to move the Department of Adult Social Services forward.

With the agreement of the Chair the following item was considered as a matter of urgent business in view of the need for a decision prior to the next meeting of this Committee.

The Director of Finance reported upon the departure of the Head of Transformational Change under voluntary severance arrangements.

Resolved (5:3) –

(1) That this Committee notes the departure of the Head of Transformational Change from 30 September, 2010.

(2) That the permanent deletion of the post of Head of Transformational Change from 1 November, 2010, be agreed.

With the agreement of the Chair the following item was considered as a matter of urgent business in view of the need for a decision prior to the next meeting of this Committee.

The Interim Chief Executive reported upon the impending departure of the Head of Policy and Performance under voluntary severance arrangements.

The Leader of the Labour Group expressed concerns over the manner in which interim management arrangements were being put in place and the need for a more considered approach.

The Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group expressed her thanks for the clear explanations and recommendations from officers.

Resolved (5:3) – That this Committee notes the departure of the Head of Policy and Performance from 29 October, 2010.