Coroner’s services in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent due to merge after proposals given go-ahead
Coroner’s services in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent are due to be merged after proposals were given the go-ahead by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) earlier this year.
The proposed merger will see Stoke-on-Trent City Council enter a partnership with Staffordshire County Council to oversee a new joint service via a joint executive committee.
An officers’ report given to bosses at the city council said: “The proposed merger of coronial areas is in line with the vision and direction of travel as set out by the Chief Coroner and Ministry of Justice.
“A shared area will provide the ability to look at economies of scale and reduce duplication which will ultimately lead to future cost avoidance for both councils and it is hoped efficiencies to be made.
“These options would not be available if the merger were not to take place.”
A new joint executive committee will set the budget for the new service and act as its management board.
It will be comprised of senior leaders from both the city council and county council, who will review an annual report into the service and carry out performance monitoring.
The legal framework for the new combined service is currently being drawn up, ready for both authorities to sign off.
The officers’ report states: “The proposed new joint service follows national policy established by the Ministry of Justice and supported by the Chief Coroner to merge smaller coronial areas and reduce the overall number of Coronial jurisdictions in England and Wales.
“Since 2014, the Chief Coroner and the Ministry of Justice have had a long-term plan to reduce the number of coronial areas in England and Wales.
“As a result, area mergers are always considered whenever the opportunity arises, invariably when a senior coroner retires.”
Staffordshire South senior coroner Andrew Haigh retired at the end of October 2021, and North Staffordshire senior coroner Andrew Barkley was subsequently appointed as interim senior coroner for the south area pending a decision on the merger.
It means Staffordshire will have one combined service rather than the two current services in the north and south of the county.
A business case for the merger was originally agreed in February 2022 and submitted to the MoJ in March 2022.
In January this year, the business case was approved and the MoJ has now completed a consultation which was a legal requirement in order for the plans to progress.
The report added: “It is expected that the shared service would not only improve services for bereaved families, but would also provide opportunities for efficiency savings, ensuring that the service is sustainable and fit for the future.
“A shared service will further allow for the development of a centre of excellence for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.”
The plans would see a single back-office support team being managed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council, and a new IT system has already been brought in to prepare for this.
Under the new regime, inquests will be held in Stoke-on-Trent but there will also be arrangements to enabling inquests to be held in Stafford if required.
Employees who currently have Staffordshire County Council contracts will transfer to new contracts with Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
There are no plans to reduce existing staffing levels – but two experienced officers have already taken voluntary redundancy.
The service is expected to merge in October, and there will be a six-month review in April 2024.
