The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report to inform the Committee of the ongoing procurement process for the Coroner Removals Contract to be implemented in December 2022 and seeking authority to enter into a contract with the most economically advantageous tenderer.  A Climate Impact Assessment was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report explained that the Council had in place a contract with a funeral director for the removal and transportation of bodies within the county area of Berkshire, which it managed on behalf of HM Senior Coroner Berkshire.  The present contract was for three years until 3 June 2022 with an option to extend for a further two years.  The contractors had given notice that they would not extend the contract but had agreed to continue to provide the service for a further six months, until 9 December 2022, to allow the Council to undertake a new procurement process.  It was proposed to award new contracts for this service from 10 December 2022 for a period of three years with the option of extending the contract subject to performance, with a 12 month notice period.  The county area would be divided up into four zones and tenderers could bid for one or more of the zones.

Resolved –

(1)      That the proposed procurement route and process as described in the report be noted;

(2)      That the Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services and the Assistant Director of Finance, to enter into a contract(s) and spend to provide coroner removals with the most economically advantageous tenderer.