Extending Registration Services in Cumbria

Cumbria County Council’s Registration Service will extend its range of services to include baby-naming and wedding vow renewal to meet the growing demand for these civil ceremonies. The service extension, approved by the County Council’s Cabinet this week is likely to start early in 2004. 

County Councillor Jack Richardson, Cabinet spokesman for Registration Services says, 

“The Registrar General encourages local councils to provide services requested by the public, wherever this is legally possible. There is an increased demand for civil baby naming ceremonies and marriage vow renewals and Cumbria is a beautiful place for these services to take place. Baby naming ceremonies are an opportunity for couples and their extended families to make a shared commitment to the child and it’s upbringing in a civil rather than religious ceremony. Although like wedding vow renewal, they have no legal standing, they provide an opportunity to make a public declaration and commitment to the child in a civil setting. I am delighted that Cabinet has agreed to extend these services and would expect them to be very popular. Increasing the availability of these types of registration services can only be advantageous to local businesses and the Cumbrian economy. 

Although fee levels for these services haven’t been set yet, it’s likely that they will be similar to civil wedding ceremony charges. The current charges are £180 on a weekday, £220 for a Saturday and £300 for a Sunday or bank holiday. The services can take place in one of the nine register offices in Cumbria or any of the 100 or so approved and licensed premises.” 

Agreement has been reached nationally for Civil Ceremonies Ltd to be commissioned by local councils to provide services utilising local register office staff. This partnership approach overcomes legal impediments relating to service provision.