A PLANNED merger of Wirral and Liverpool coroner services is expected to be given approval at a special meeting of the borough's ruling cabinet next week.

All Wirral inquests have been held in Liverpool since the retirement of coroner Christopher Johnson, on December 31 last year.

In January, both councils agreed to operate a joint service on an interim basis.

Councillors will be asked to recommend a "business case" that sets out the proposed creation of a Liverpool and Wirral Coroner Service, when cabinet meets next Thursday night.

If plans are approved, the service will continue to operate from Gerard Majella Courthouse in Boundary Street in Liverpool.

The proposal also makes clear that any bereaved Wirral families will be able to request inquests are heard in Birkenhead Town Hall.

Andre Rebello is currently assistant coroner for Wirral and would be appointed Senior Coroner for the proposed merged service.

The Ministry of Justice will undertake formal consultation before a final decision is taken by the Chief Coroner. The exercise will last six weeks starting on December 8.

When Mr Rebello was appointed assistant coroner for Wirral at the start of the year he took on a caseload of 116 outstanding inquests, which have been reduced to four over the last 10 months.

In his report to cabinet, Wirral Council’s legal chief Surjit Tour said Mr Rebello had "introduced effective working practices to the manner in which Wirral coronial services are delivered.

"Inquests have been dealt with more expeditiously, there is a lower post mortem rate, which is a key cost driver, there has been a significant shift in emphasis onto ensuring the needs of bereaved families are prioritised and met, and a more robust approach taken to ensure public funds are utilised effectively.

"The interim arrangements have demonstrated that the impact upon bereaved families or the public has been positive.”