Consultation on plans for Bexley Registrars' Service
4 January 2012
Local stakeholders are being invited to comment on plans to develop Bexley's Registrars' Service.
The service is responsible for registering births, marriages and deaths. It offers a high quality venue at Manor House Sidcup for marriage, civil partnership, naming and renewal of vows ceremonies and has also recently launched a convenient local nationality checking service.
A key part of the future plans for the service is a proposal to hand its management over to Kent County Council. Services will remain at The Manor House and under the London Borough of Bexley's control, but a wider range of services and support will be available as a results of the link with Kent's much larger service, including an online appointments booking facility.
Sharing the management of the service will reduce the cost of the service to Bexley Council Tax payers, but charges for those who choose to hold a ceremony at Manor House are likely to rise to match those of Kent.
The Council will be writing to people who are regular users of the service, including doctors, coroners and funeral directors, along with the operators of other premises approved for wedding and other ceremonies in the borough, but anyone is welcome to give their comments.
You can view the draft plan for the Registrars' Service and give your comments by visiting https://www.engagespace.co.uk/engage/bexley/
The deadline for comments is 24 February. When the Council has considered the feedback it receives, the plan will need to be approved by the General Register Officer, which is part of the Home Office.
Deputy Leader of the Council Cllr Colin Campbell is expected to take a final decision on the future of the service in early March.
