Issue - meetings

(Report of the Head of Legal Services – To be introduced by the Leader): To propose changing the status of the current “register office” to become an approved premises for the conduct of marriage and civil partnership services providing by this means a superior and more customer focused service.

We noted that the report proposed changing the status of the current “register office” to become an approved premises for the conduct of marriage and civil partnership services providing by this means a superior and more customer focused service and alternative arrangements for the provision of the statutory “register office”.

The report also proposed an increase of fee from £750 to £1,375 for the designation of a private premises as an approved premise as well as other increases in fees for services provided by the Registrars Service.

RESOLVED:

1.      That approval be granted to the de-commissioning of the Ceremony Room, Council Chamber and Committee Rooms 1 and 2 from the “register office”.

2.      That it be noted that the statutory service of £43.50 would be provided in the superintendent and additional superintendent rooms.

3.      That an internal application be made by the Director of Corporate Resources on behalf of Council as the property owner to make the de-commissioned rooms into “approved premises” known as “The Civic Suite” (or such other name deemed appropriate) for decision by the Registration Service in the ordinary way.

4.      That approval be granted to the following scale of charges for the marriage/civil partnership service (including the conduct of the service )in the “Civic Suite”:

            Ceremony Room:

            Monday, Wednesday, Thursday:                                           £70

            Tuesday:                                                                       £43.50         Friday:                                                                                                £100

            Saturday:                                                                                £130 

            Council Chamber (all times)                                                    £250 

           Committee Rooms 1&2 (all times)                                  £150

5.      That it be noted that the above fees will be reviewed annually.

6.      That approval be granted to the following revised fees (inclusive of VAT) charged for the Nationality Checking  Service:

            Single applicant:          Current:       £34.50            Proposed: £46.00

            Couple                                                £57.50                               £69.00

            Child                                                   £23.00                               £23.00

            Additional child after 2 children       £23.00                               £17.25

7.      That approval be granted to the following charge for Birth, Death and Marriage certificates not currently charged:

            Issue of certificate on day of request (new proposal) -                 £3.00 administration charge

8.      That approval be granted to the fee charged to applicants wishing to have their premises approved for wedding and civil partnership ceremonies increased from £750 to £1,375.

9.      That all changes be effective from 1 September 2009.