THE registering of births deaths and marriages in Bexley look set to be taken over by Kent County Council.

But the future of Sidcup’s Manor House as a register office would be safeguarded under proposals to be debated by Bexley councillors tonight (October 20).

The council has been reviewing its registrars service, which is based at the Grade II listed Manor House in The Green, to see how it could be made more efficient and generate more income for the council.

In a separate move, the Manor House was removed from the list of council-owned properties up for sale to finance the council’s Bexley First project, following fierce protests.

Bexley First aims to finance the improvement of council services and provide new civic offices following the sale of the council’s Bexleyheath Broadway site, probably to a supermarket chain.

The registrars service deals with around 6,000 births, deaths and notices of marriage each year.

Around 1,400 ceremonies including weddings and citizenship ceremonies, are held, many of them in the Manor House, which is one of the most popular register offices in south east London.

Bexley Council has already drawn up a conservation and management plan for the Manor House, which will be financed by selling off parts of the site for redevelopment.

Consultants say the registrars service could be improved, the Manor House retained and savings of up to £108,000 a year made, by contracting the service to the KCC, although control would remain with Bexley.

The alternative would be for Bexley to invest more cash in the service which could result in savings of around £60,000 a year, but not until 2012/13.

The views of tonight’s finance scrutiny committee together with union and staff consultations will go to cabinet member Councillor Colin Campbell.