Decision details

Ipswich Borough Council as a cremation authority requires the services of a Medical Referee to authorise the cremation of a deceased person. It is a legal requirement that no cremation shall be allowed to take place unless the death has been properly registered or certified, and the correct statutory forms have been submitted and duly authorised by the Medical Referee or their Deputy.

The Secretary of State must appoint a medical referee for each cremation authority. Ravenswood Medical Centre are the Medical Referee appointed by The Secretary of State for Ipswich until 31st December 2024.

The requirement for the Council to conduct a competitive purchasing process for any Contract in excess of £10,000 may be waived when the Contract to be awarded does not exceed the relevant PCR2015 threshold: and goods or materials are available only as proprietary or patented articles from one

Contractor or supplier, and for which there is no reasonable satisfactory alternative.

The Council is required to use Medical Referee(s) as appointed by the Secretary of State. Therefore, an exemption from the requirement in Contract Standing Orders (para 3.10) to conduct a competitive purchasing process is required in order for the Council to be compliant with its Constitution.

To use Ravenswood Medical Centre as appointed by the Secretary of State as the Council’s Medical Referee to authorise the cremation of a deceased person.

Reason:

This Council is required to use Medical Referee(s) as appointed by the Secretary of State.