Date: 19 November 2006 09:04

PUBLIC TO HAVE THEIR SAY ON CREATING MODERN REGISTRATION SERVICE

Cambridgeshire County Council Registration Service is running a major 
consultation to give the public an opportunity to help shape the service in 
future.

Currently the service operates under legislation which has changed little 
since the Victorian era. There is a national Registration Service 
modernisation programme under way, which includes more flexible practices 
and a new computer system for recording births, marriages, civil 
partnerships and deaths. The County Council is planning changes to further 
improve the service in Cambridgeshire, where currently:

* The county is divided into four registration districts, which means that 
notice of marriage must be given in the district where someone lives; and 
birth and death registrations must be made in the district where they took 
place rather than at any registration office in the county.
* Telephone information and appointments booking is only available during 
Register Office opening hours, which vary from office to office
* Separate appointments are needed with Registration and District Councils 
to deal with the consequences of a death, such as Council Tax, rent, social 
services etc.
* Appointments are only available Monday to Friday 9.00-3.30 pm.
* Birth and death registrations are only available at Register Offices.

As part of the consultation programme, the public are being asked to give 
their opinion on a range of options, including:

* The creation of a single registration district to allow any service to be 
delivered from any office (while retaining all the current offices)
* Telephone information and appointments booking service available from 8.00 
am-8.00 pm, Monday to Saturday.
* One stop bereavement service in partnership with district councils
* Early morning, evening and Saturday morning appointments.
* Birth and death registration service available in hospitals, and selected 
other public places
* Ability to book registration staff up to 24 months in advance for a 
ceremony
* Provision of civil funerals.
* Ceremony rehearsal facilities and a post ceremony room available for hire.
* Saturday afternoon ceremonies at all registration offices.
* Express 'while you wait' service for duplicate certificates.

County Council Head of Registration and Coroners Service Jim Milne, said: 
"In parallel with the national modernisation programme, we are planning to 
update the way in which registration services are delivered in 
Cambridgeshire to make them as relevant, accessible, flexible and customer 
friendly as possible.

"People's opinions are very important to guide the shape of the service for 
the 21st Century and I hope as many as possible will help us by taking the 
time to complete and return our questionnaire."

 Full details of the proposals and an on-line questionnaire can be found at
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/community/bmd/bmd2021

Paper copies of the questionnaire are available at Register Offices. The 
consultation runs to the end of November.

John Reynolds