Sch 5 para 16
(1) A minute of the proceedings of a meeting of a flood defence committee, purporting to be signed at that or the next ensuing meeting by— (a) the chairman of the meeting to the proceedings of which the minute relates, or (b) by the chairman of the next ensuing meeting, shall be evidence of the proceedings and shall be received in evidence without further proof. (2) Where a minute has been signed as mentioned in sub-paragraph (1) above in respect of a meeting of a committee or sub-committee, then, unless the contrary is shown— (a) the meeting shall be deemed to have been duly convened and held; (b) all the proceedings had at any such meeting shall be deemed to have been duly had; and (c) that committee or sub-committee shall be deemed to have been duly constituted and have had power to deal with the matters referred to in the minute. (3) The validity of any proceedings of a flood defence committee shall not be affected by any vacancy among the members of the committee or by any defect in the appointment of such a member.