Registration & Coroners’ Services Introduction to key personnel, services and current issues

Key personnel Proper Officer – Paul Burgess Registration Service Manager & Coroners’ Support Officer – Gwyneth Sarkar HM Coroners – Dr James Adeley & Richard Taylor Superintendent Registrar – Gill Greeson Cabinet Member – Cllr Jean Battle

Statutory Services Registration of births and deaths Taking Notice of Intention to marry or form a civil partnership Perform and register civil marriages and civil partnerships Issues copy birth, death and marriage certificates Deal with corrections, alterations etc. Answerable to the Registrar General

Non-Statutory Services Civil partnership ceremonies Marriage vow renewal ceremonies Naming ceremonies Civil funeral services/eulogies Local Government Act 2003 – well being powers

Registration Service Budget Total spending £2,076k - £1,242k on salaries, £488k on re-charges Total income £1,354k Cost to the Council Tax payer £722k Most services 50:50 Trying to increase income from weddings, non-statutory ceremonies, copy certificates

Big issues for Registrars Continued local modernisation of the service/implementation of new services Introduction of a new web based national IT system Government plan to take away statutory status and make registrars into LA employees Government plan to de-regulate service Business continuity plans

HM Coroner Service Full time Coroner - Preston, Chorley, South Ribble, West Lancs., Lancaster, Ormskirk based Preston Part time Coroner - Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale based Burnley Fleetwood, Fylde, Ribble Valley and Accrington covered by Coroners in Blackpool and Blackburn

Coroners’ Duties Investigate deaths that are reported to him and which appear to be violent, or are unnatural, or are sudden and of unknown cause, or which occur in legal custody Investigates, organises post mortems, holds inquests 4000 deaths referred each year

Current issues Minister of State for Constitutional Affairs in Feb. announced proposals to reform the service Deficiencies highlighted by Shipman Report and Fundamental Review Likely to be fewer Coroners, larger jurisdictions, no part timers, supported by medical advisers

Challenges facing Coroners About 4000 deaths referred annually Preston Coroner has 5 prisons, 3 large hospitals, major road and rail links All prison deaths have to have inquest under Human Rights Act prison deaths in 2005 – only 72 nationally (116 Coroners) 6 month target to hold inquests

Challenges continued Increase in number of referrals Pressure to meet or exceed targets Pressure to ensure proper and thorough investigations Service to the bereaved Accommodation issues in Preston Problems accessing courts for inquests

Big Issues for Coroners in 2006/7 Capital programme to refurbish the Coroner’s Court in Preston Need to find new office accommodation for the Preston Coroner and staff Appointment of a temporary Deputy Coroner to allow back log of inquests to be completed Progress of the Government’s review of the Coroner service