A council is to take over control of the North West Wales Coroner service in a bid to ‘streamline’ the service it offers.

The coroner’s service, covering a jurisdiction of Anglesey and Gwynedd, is responsible for handling inquests relating to deaths due to unknown causes, violent or unnatural deaths and those that occur in custody.

But while the service was previously provided at arms length – being jointly funded by Gwynedd and Isle of Anglesey councils, it will now be brought in-house under direct Gwynedd Council’s employment.

According to a decision notice authorised by the portfolio holder for corporate support, Cllr Nia Jeffreys, this was reached with the blessing of Anglesey Council who will continue to contribute financially towards the agreement.

The senior coroner, Dewi Pritchard Jones, previously ran the service from a solicitor’s company office in Caernarfon. But following his retirement as a working solicitor, an alternative arrangement has been required.

Previously, the Senior Coroner was paid £28,188 a year to pay for his office and staff, including rental costs for office space.

But under the new arrangements, the coroner support service will be provided directly by the council from its own offices, with the coroner’s clerk also being transferred to Gwynedd Council employment.

IT and office service will also be provided by Gwynedd Council’s existing structure but the status of both the senior and assistant coroner will remain unchanged.

The report also notes that inquests will be held from now on in the main Dafydd Orwig chamber, which is described as more suitable than Penrallt’s Arfon Chamber (also in Caernarfon), which is currently used.

This, it confirms, would ensure a sustainable long-term location while also allowing a more regular link between the council and senior coroner.

The decision notice, published by Gwynedd Council, notes: “Following the Senior Coroner’s recent retirement as a solicitor, it became evident that the allowance (£28,188 per annum) was not sufficient to meet the accommodation and staff costs.

“The council received a request from the Senior Coroner to increase the allowance to meet these costs. The allowance has therefore been increased on a temporary basis while the arrangements between him and the Council are reviewed.”

It goes on to note, “As a result of the increase in office costs, the cost to the council of fulfilling its statutory duty through the current arrangements has increased substantially.

“A change to an arrangement whereby offices are provided within the council’s own buildings would be cost neutral compared with the service’s current budget.

“When comparing the cost of increasing the allowance to maintain the existing office with the cost of bringing the service in-house, the overall impact of bringing the service in-house would be cost neutral.”