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 relevant 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 fee increases across a range of the Registration Service non statutory fees.

1.    That approval be given to the following ceremony fees, with the equivalent fees also applying to any Renewal of Vows ceremonies : 

Recommended Fees

2017/182018/19

Weekday                         £485               £500

Sat & Sun                        £590               £605

Bank Holiday                  £695               £715

Christmas Day and        £835               £850

Boxing Day

2.    That that the Administration fee and second stage payment for ceremonies each remain at their current level of £100 for 2016/17.

3.    That the fees for ceremonies in the Mayor’s Reception Room and the Silk Room for 2017/18 be set at £245 for weekdays and £285 for Saturdays.

4.    That the fee for licensing a building for Marriage and Civil Partnership be increased from £1550 to £1650 with effect from 1 April 2016.

5.    That the fees for the Nationality Checking Service for 2016/17 be set at:

Adult - £75; and 

Child under 18 - £40

6.    That  the fees for a Private Citizenship ceremony for 2016/17 be set at:

Adult £100; and

Child under 18 – nil

7.    That the fee for the production of On Demand certificates for 2016/17 remain at £20.

It was reported that the majority of fees collected by the registration service are set by central government. The Council has legal authority under legislation to set fees for non statutory services including ceremonies at approved premises, grant of approval for approved premises, naming ceremonies, renewal of vows ceremonies, nationality checking service, private citizenship ceremonies, administration fee for booking ceremonies and on demand certificate service.

The specific power to levy fees for Approved Premises is set out in the Marriages (Approved Premises) Regulations 2011. A specific power to charge was introduced by section 93 of the Local Government Act 2003, which gives relevant authorities the power to charge for discretionary services.  Further, the new general power of competence contained in the Localism Act 2011 now sits alongside a local authority’s power to trade and charge.  In common with the Local Government Act 2003 powers, charging for things done in the exercise of the general power of competence is not a power to make a profit from those activities.

Financial advice had been sought on the proposed fees taking into account the full cost of administering the service. The proposed fees for ceremonies would recover the full cost of ceremonies for the year without generating excess fee income.

RESOLVED

1.    That approval be given to the following ceremony fees, with the equivalent fees also applying to any Renewal of Vows ceremonies : 

Recommended Fees

2017/182018/19

Weekday                         £485               £500

Sat & Sun                        £590               £605

Bank Holiday                  £695               £715

Christmas Day and        £835               £850

Boxing Day

2.    That that the Administration fee and second stage payment for ceremonies each remain at their current level of £100 for 2016/17.

3.    That the fees for ceremonies in the Mayor’s Reception Room and the Silk Room for 2017/18 be set at £245 for weekdays and £285 for Saturdays.

4.    That the fee for licensing a building for Marriage and Civil Partnership be increased from £1550 to £1650 with effect from 1 April 2016.

5.    That the fees for the Nationality Checking Service for 2016/17 be set at:

Adult - £75; and 

Child under 18 - £40

6.    That  the fees for a Private Citizenship ceremony for 2016/17 be set at:

Adult £100; and

Child under 18 – nil

7.    That the fee for the production of On Demand certificates for 2016/17 remain at £20.