Issue details

25/00034 - Proposed merger of the existing four coronial jurisdictions covering Kent and Medway into one jurisdiction

 

 

Proposed decision:

To approve the proposal to merge the existing four coronial jurisdictions into a single jurisdiction following the retirement of one of the two Senior Coroners.

 

Reason for the decision

 

According to the Chief Coroner’s Office, there are currently 85 coroner jurisdictions in England and Wales and the long-term joint target with the Ministry of Justice is to reduce the number to around 75. Mergers are always considered when the opportunity arises, invariably when a senior coroner retires. The merging of coroner jurisdictions has many benefits as combining jurisdictions leads to greater consistency and uniformity of approach within the coroner service. A reduction in the number of coroner jurisdictions over the last few years has been of considerable benefit.

 

Background

 

Mr Roger Hatch, Senior Coroner for the jurisdiction of North West Kent resigned on the 29th of November 2024 to retire in June 2025. 

 

There are currently four coronial jurisdiction in Kent and Medway. Mr Hatch is Senior Coroner to one of them. Mrs Patricia Harding is Senior Coroner, or Acting Senior Coroner, to the other three.

 

Mr Hatch’s retirement, therefore, presents the opportunity to formally merge the jurisdiction into one.

 

 

How the proposed decision supports Framing Kent’s Future 2022-2026: (https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/strategies-and-policies/corporate-policies/our-council-strategy)

 

The decision concerns the efficient and effective provision of infrastructure for the community in managing the death pathway, reaching appropriate judicial conclusions and supporting the bereaved.

 

How the proposed decision supports: Securing Kent’s Future: democracy.kent.gov.uk/documents/s121235/Securing Kents Future - Budget Recovery Strategy.pdf

 

The merged jurisdictions will allow for fully consistent service delivery across Kent and Medway, allowing some initial efficiencies to be made but putting in place the structure to capitalise on any future efficiency opportunities.

 

Options considered and discarded

Do nothing. This would be counter to the direction of travel of the Chief Coroner who has supported the existing temporary arrangements for three of the four jurisdictions It is likely that those three Jurisdictions would need to be merged, leaving one single jurisdiction without a Senior Coroner and needing to have one appointed. Doing nothing would also limit the ability for efficiencies to be introduced into the services supporting the coroners.

 

Decision type: Key

Decision status: For Determination

Notice of proposed decision first published: 19/02/2025

Decision due: Not before 20th Mar 2025 by Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services
Reason: To allow 28 day notice period required under Executive Decision regulations

Lead member: Cabinet Member for Community and Regulatory Services

Lead director: Stephanie Holt-Castle

Department: Growth, Environment & Transport

Contact: Belinda Hooker, Head of Coroner Service Email: belinda.hooker@kent.gov.uk.

Consultees

The proposed decision was considered and endorsed at the Growth, Economic Development and Communities Cabinet Committee on 6 March 2025.

Financial implications: The saving of a single Senior Coroner salary will in part be offset by an increase in the salary of the remaining Senior Coroner who assumes the fourth jurisdiction. The remainder of the retiring Senior Coroner’s salary will be invested in Area or Assistant Coroner capacity

Legal implications: The Kent (Coroners) Order 1998 is the ‘relevant council’ for the purposes of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 across Kent and Medway. This means that KCC is responsible for the duty under section 24 of that act to provide staff and accommodation needed for the coroners to carry out their functions. It is for KCC to decide how to discharge that duty, although there is a requirement for the views of the Senior Coroner to be taken into account. Mrs Harding is fully aware and supportive of the proposal to formally merge the existing four Jurisdictions into one.

Equalities implications: • Equalities implications The Kent and Medway Coroners Service completed an EQIA during the colocation of courts and offices from various locations to Oakwood House - the merger will also be covered in an additional EQIA specifically covering the merger details, although there are no proposals to change the way in which the service to the public is delivered. • Data Protection implications For the purposes of the Coroner Service, the two Senior Coroners are the data controllers. The General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) do not apply to deceased persons, but information is collected during the course of Coroner Officer enquires that relates to the living. This includes details about next of kin, for example name, address, and telephone number. Sometimes this information is shared with other organisations for the specific purposes of the coroner’s investigation, for example with the NHS for the purpose of conducting a postmortem.

Documents