Decision details

Cabinet considered a report which outlined the current situation with the Senior Coroner for North Tyneside; and sought approval for the proposed way forward for the Coroner Service in North Tyneside.

Cabinet considered the following decision options: to approve all recommendations as set out in paragraph 1.2 of the report, or alternatively, to not approve the recommendations.   

Resolved that (1) the settlement of the historic back-pay issue with the Senior Coroner for North Tyneside, and his retirement with effect from 30 September 2019 be approved;

(2) the appointment of the Senior Coroner for Newcastle as an Assistant Coroner and subsequently as Acting Senior Coroner for North Tyneside be approved; and

(3) the merger of the Newcastle and North Tyneside Coroners areas be approved in principle, subject to the development of an agreed business case.

(Reasons for decision: Given the current Coroner’s desire to retire, together with the opportunity for ongoing savings within the service delivered through that retirement, Option 1 is recommended.  In the event that the retirement takes place, the Authority will need to make provision for a Senior Coroner to discharge the necessary duties, and the proposed arrangements with the Newcastle Senior Coroner will allow the Authority to smoothly move towards a merger of the two areas, in line with the stated policy of the Ministry of Justice.)