Inspection Report Praises Service

People visiting a registration officer in Powys are getting good levels of customer care and access to the service - that's the verdict of a central government report.

 

Powys County Council has welcomed the General Register Office inspection report, which is the first since the county council introduced a new management structure for its registration service in April 2009.

 

The modernised structure has seen the service move from one operating a deficit to one which is now operating within budget.

 

The General Register Office’s inspection took place last summer and their report commends the council for its good levels of customer care, good service access and robust administrative procedures in delivering the registration service.

 

Councillor Russell George, Powys County Council's Board Member with responsibility for Customer Services, said: "We are very pleased that central government has recognised the hard work which has gone into making the improvements to the service in Powys. The inspector's comments back our own customer satisfaction survey findings which consistently show more than 90 per cent satisfaction for our registration service."

 

The report also states that, in some areas such as the ability to obtain an appointment, the council exceeds national performance standards.

 

It also commends the service for bettering national standards for its quick 'turn around' in supplying copy certificates to customers (for example people needing birth certificate copies to apply for a passport or to investigate their family history.) 97% of certificates are sent out within five days - the national target is 90%.

 

Cllr George added: "I'd like to give my thanks to the whole Registration Service team for their sterling work. Staff have had to adopt a lot of new working practices since the new structure was implemented last year. It hasn't been easy for them but they have responded magnificently."