Issue - meetings

The report seeks views on the proposed renewal of the contract for body storage and post mortems for the Mid Kent & Medway area.  It specifically recommends that KCC renews its contracts (a) with Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust to carry out PM’s at Darent Valley Hospital for the North West Kent coroner area, and (b) with East Kent NHS Trust to carry out PMs at QEQM Hospital Margate and William Harvey Hospital Ashford for the North East Kent and Central & South East Kent coroner areas.

Katie Stewart (Director for Environment, Planning and Enforcement) was in attendance for the item.

(1)  Mr Hill (Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services) introduced the report that set out the recommendations for KCC to  renew its contracts with the following:

(i)            Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust to carry out Post Mortems at Darent Valley Hospital for the North West Kent coroner area and;

(ii)          East Kent NHS Trust to carry out Post Mortems at QEQM Hospital Margate and William Harvey Hospital Ashford for the North East Kent and Central & South East coroner areas.

(2)  Single sourcing through a negotiated procedure provided the lowest risk option and the solution was most likely to deliver the best commercial and sustainable outcome for KCC.

(3)  Ms Stewart said that the previous contract was based on a fixed fee regardless of activity levels whereas the new proposed contract was based on a cost per post mortem.

(4)  Resolved that the Cabinet Committee endorsed the proposed decision of the Cabinet member for Community and Regulatory Services to award a four year contract for post mortems for the North East Kent, North West Kent and Central and South East Kent coroner areas for the period 1 October 2017 to 30 September 2021.