As Leader of the Council, I agree to:
Approve the procurement and setup arrangements for temporary morgue facilities to provide additional capacity projected to be required as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This approval includes agreement;
I. to approve the virement of £11m from reserves to support the procurement and management of temporary body storage solutions throughout Kent and Medway (at one or more locations extent to be decided) to provide additional capacity as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Such solutions shall include, but not be limited solely to, site preparation, installation of temporary structure and equipment, management of the site, security and access control, facility management, ICT and technical systems support, body storage management, transportation and traffic management services to and from the location(s), demobilisation and site clearance including any decontamination; management and staffing and
II. to delegate authority under the Scheme of Officer Delegations to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Corporate Director for Finance and the Monitoring Officer, to take relevant actions, including but not limited entering into contracts and other legal agreements required to ensure the effective operation and delivery of the increased mortuary capacity, as necessary to implement this decision; and
III. to delegate authority under the Scheme of Officer Delegations to the Director of Infrastructure in consultation with the Leader, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Corporate and Traded Services, the Corporate Director for Finance, the monitoring officer and the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport to direct the use of KCC land and/ or finalise the terms and enter into the necessary contracts and legal land agreements required to enable the provision and operation of the mortuary capacity, and take other appropriate actions in relation to Property Management and Infrastructure activity, necessary to implement this decision.