Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

In accordance with Procedure Rules Nos.11 and 35 a period of 10 minutes is allocated for members of the public to address the meeting on any matter relating to the work of the body in question.  Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes but the Chairman or person presiding will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned where there are a number of speakers. Members of the public are not required to give notice to use this facility. However, as a matter of courtesy, a period of 24 hours’ notice is encouraged.

Members of the public wishing to ask a question at the meeting should provide at least three clear working days’ notice in writing and should include the question with that notice. This will enable an informed answer to be given.

No members of the public were present.

To consider a revision of the ceremony fees for 2014/15, and to agree the ceremony fees for the Registration Service for 2015/16 and 2016/17.

1.    That the published fee for a 2.00 pm Saturday Ceremony for 2014/15 at Approved Premises be amended from £660 to £550, and that customers who have already paid be offered a refund of the difference for ceremonies taking place after the date of the decision.

2.    That the published fee for a Sunday Ceremony for 2014/15 at Approved Premises be amended from £560 to £550, and that customers who have already paid be offered a refund of the difference for ceremonies taking place after the date of the decision.

3.    That the published fee for Christmas Day and Boxing Day for 2014/15 for Approved Premises be amended from £900 to £800. 

4.    That the fees for Ceremonies for 2015/16 and 2016/17 be set and published as follows:

5.    That the fee for Ceremonies held in the Mayor’s Reception Room, Municipal Buildings, Crewe, and the Silk Room, Macclesfield, be set and published  at £220 for 2015/16 and at £230 for 2016/17.

Consideration was given to revise ceremony fees for 2014/15, and to agree them for 2015/16 and 2016/17. 

A review of the charging structure for ceremonies at approved premises had been undertaken and, as a result, revised fees were now being proposed.  The period of time for setting the fees needed to reflect the fact that couples tended to book their ceremonies up to three years in advance.  In addition, some adjustments to the current years published fees had also been made.  In considering the adjustment to the 2014/15 current years fees for ceremonies at Approved Premises at 2.00 pm on a Saturday, and for ceremonies at Approved Premises on a Sunday, it was agreed that a refund of the difference be offered for those ceremonies which had been paid for but which had not yet taken place.

The majority of the fees collected by the Registration Service are set by central Government but the Council has a legal authority under legislation to set fees for none statutory services including those now under consideration.  The charges must reasonably represent all the costs incurred by the authority in providing a registrar and superintendent registrar to attend at solemnisation.  

RESOLVED

1.    That the published fee for a 2.00 pm Saturday Ceremony for 2014/15 at Approved Premises be amended from £660 to £550, and that customers who have already paid be offered a refund of the difference for ceremonies taking place after the date of the decision.

2.    That the published fee for a Sunday Ceremony for 2014/15 at Approved Premises be amended from £560 to £550, and that customers who have already paid be offered a refund of the difference for ceremonies taking place after the date of the decision.

3.    That the published fee for Christmas Day and Boxing Day for 2014/15 for Approved Premises be amended from £900 to £800. 

4.    That the fees for Ceremonies for 2015/16 and 2016/17 be set and published as follows:

5.      That the fee for Ceremonies held in the Mayor’s Reception Room, Municipal Buildings, Crewe, and the Silk Room, Macclesfield, be set and published  at £220 for 2015/16 and at £230 for 2016/17.