24 (8) At all meetings of a committee each member present shall have one vote on each question before the committee: Provided that in the event of an equality of votes the chairperson or person presiding at the meeting shall have a casting vote in addition to his or her deliberative vote. (9) Subject to this paragraph, the procedure to be followed at any meeting of a committee shall be as fixed by the Board Minutes of proceedings 9.(1) The Board shall cause minutes of all proceedings of and decisions taken at its meetings and the meetings of its committees to be entered in books kept for the purpose. (2) Any minutes referred to in subparagraph (1) which purport to be signed by the person presiding at the meeting to which the minutes relate or by the person presiding at the next following meeting of the Board or the committee, as the case may be, shall be accepted for all purposes as prima facie evidence of the proceedings and decisions taken at the meeting concerned. (3) The Board and any committee of the Board shall cause copies of all minutes that have been signed as provided in subparagraph (2) to be sent to the Minister for his information. Validity of decisions and acts of Board 10.(1) No decision or act of the Board or act done under the authority of the Board shall be invalid solely because there were one or more vacancies on the Board when the decision was taken or the act was done or authorised. (2) If any decision or other act of the Board is rendered invalid through a procedural irregularity, the Board may at a duly convened meeting ratify the decision or act, and any decision or act so ratified shall be valid in all respects with effect from the date of its ratification. THIRD SCHEDULE (Section 20(4)) POWERS OF HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT BOARDS 1. To acquire movable property by purchase, loan, hire or exchange. 2. To maintain, alter or improve the property of the hospital. 3. To sell, exchange, lease, pledge, dispose of, turn to account or otherwise deal with any property of the Board for such consideration as the Board may determine. 4. To borrow money in such amounts, on such terms and conditions and for such purposes as may be approved by the Minister and the Minister responsible for finance. 5. To secure group professional indemnity cover for members of the staff of the hospital while performing public duties. 6. To insure against any loss, risk or liability which the hospital may incur or any damage which the hospital may suffer. 7. To enter into agreements and to modify or rescind such agreements: