Recognition for top performing registration service
Dudley Council’s registration service was the top performing authority in the West Midlands for birth registrations in 2020/21.
After submitting its annual performance report to the government’s General Register Office, the service has also been commended for its hard work and continued efforts in maintaining service delivery in the face of the challenges of Covid-19.
During the year, 78 per cent of births were registered within 42 days, despite none being able to be registered during the first lockdown.
Once registrations started again in June 2020, the backlog was cleared within six weeks.
Also, 92 per cent of deaths were registered within five days, two per cent above the national key performance target of 90 per cent.
Citizenship ceremonies were switched to virtual ceremonies and a full certificate issuing service continued to be provided throughout the year.
A letter from the General Register Office said Dudley Council ‘impressively’ met the timely registration of deaths key performance target by attaining 92 per cent ‘and are the top performing authority' in the region during 2020/21 in terms of birth registration performance.
“Hard work of the registration team throughout the year to maintain service delivery is also recognised,” it said.
Councillor Shaun Keasey, cabinet member for digital, customer and commercial services, said:
Well done to everyone in the registration service.
It’s a reflection of their dedication and commitment the service is the top performing authority in the West Midlands region of 14 registration districts for birth registration performance and is exceeding the national target for timely death registration.
The team has continually adapted throughout the year to maintain services for the benefit of our residents and I’d like to thank them all for their hard work in continuing to deliver such a vital service during this challenging year.”