Issue - meetings

Brent Council operates a public mortuary located within the grounds of Northwick Park Hospital as a shared service arrangement with Barnet and Harrow Councils, all of which are within the jurisdiction of the North London Coroner.  This report seeks approval to continuation of the shared service and for Brent to enter a new Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) with Barnet and Harrow for the shared service arrangement.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)       To agree that a public mortuary service should continue to be provided by Brent Council at Northwick Park on behalf of Brent, Barnet and Harrow Councils.

(2)       To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Residents and Housing Services in consultation with the Director Law (Chief Legal Officer) and Corporate Director Finance & Resources (Chief Finance Officer) to agree and finalise the terms of the Inter Authority Agreement (as outlined within Appendix 1 of the report), and to take all necessary action to implement the proposed shared service arrangement.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 15 September 2025

Councillor Knight (as Cabinet Member for Customer Experience, Resident Support & Culture) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Resident & Housing Services seeking approval for the continuation of a shared service arrangement with Barnet and Harrow Council’s for operation of the public mortuary service located within the grounds of Northwick Park Hospital (under the jurisdiction of the North London Coroner) and for Brent to enter a new Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) covering the shared service arrangement.

In presenting the report, members were reminded of the deeply human as well as statutory nature of the service given the importance in ensuring a focus on treating people with dignity and respect (often at the most difficult of times) and doing so in a way that reflected the longstanding values of compassion, efficiency and fairness.  In recognition of the fact that Brent, Harrow and Barnet Council’s served one of the most diverse communities in the country, the opportunity was also taken to outline the way in which the service had been shaped to respect cultural and religious traditions across all communities, which it was noted had been reflected within the new agreement presented as the basis for continuation of the current service.

Members were also reminded of the mortuary’s role as the designated disaster mortuary for North London, with the agreement ensuring that in the event of a major incident the necessary infrastructure would be in place to respond swiftly and with professionalism.  As further progress, members were reminded that under Brent’s leadership a major refurbishment of the facility was also underway designed to extend capacity by 2027, including not only refrigerated and freezer spaces but much needed bariatric units designed to provide future resilience on a forward planned basis.  The approach outlined was also, from a financial and value for money perspective, highlighted as an example of councils working together to deliver better outcomes at lower cost involving the shared pooling of costs and resources (as opposed to each borough facing rising infrastructure bills alone) and with the facility being maintained at a peppercorn rent lease until 2080, which it was felt represented an efficient and prudent use of public resource.

Highlighting the approach outlined as reflecting best practice in terms of collaboration, innovation and delivering for people in ways that were both compassionate and financially sustainable it was felt (in commending the report to Cabinet) that members should take pride in the fact that Brent had led the partnership from the very beginning with the leadership provided making the service one of the most respected of its kind in London.

In acknowledging the professionalism, expertise and quality in terms of the mortuary service being provided and benefits outlined in relation to the proactive and collaborative nature of the cross borough approach identified (under the leadership of Brent) in relation to future resilience and efficiency whilst also seeking to build on the outcome of the most recent Human Tissue Authority inspection of the service and maintain the highest standards of care, Cabinet RESOLVED  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11