Customer Services, Sport & Leisure Cabinet Member – Minutes – 4 September 2013

The corresponding report of the following item (Minute 25refers) contains exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

25 (4) REGISTRATION SERVICE REVIEW –  The Director of Places submitted a report seeking approval for changes to the structure and opening hours of the council’s Registration Service following a service review.

The Registration Service moved to the Civic Centre in April 2012.  Customers now had a choice of rooms for ceremonies and access to Central Park for taking photographs.  The office currently opened on a Saturday for ceremonies only, between 9am and 1pm.  The latest time a ceremony could be conducted on a Saturday was 12.30pm.

The registration of births, deaths, stillbirths and marriages was a statutory function and there was a legal duty that staff were always available to register these events.

All staff attended weddings in Approved Premises throughout North Lincolnshire.  These could be on any day of the week, including Bank Holidays.  Staff volunteered to carry out these extra duties and worked on a rota basis.

Following a review of the service, a number of options were proposed for consideration.  The report gave full details of the proposals, including financial implications.

Resolved – (a) That the proposals in Option 1, set out in paragraph 3 of the report, be approved, and (b) that the Director of Places be authorised to implement the new arrangements in accordance with the council’s Review Protocol.