Civil Marriage and Civil Partnership Policy

Any proprietor of a freehold or leasehold interest or trustee of premises who desires to obtain an approval shall deliver to the Licensing Service, Municipal Buildings, Church Road, Stockton- On-Tees, TS18 1LD the following:

• an application in writing on the application form provided by the Council
• the fee determined in accordance with Council policy
• a plan of the premises which is drawn to such a scale as clearly identifies the room or rooms in which civil marriage/partnership ceremonies are intended to be performed
• the name, address and "qualification" of the proposed responsible person

As soon as practicable after receiving an application, the Council shall inspect the premises and shall consider whether each of the requirements set out in this document are met. In this connection, the Council shall make enquiries of and seek advice from the Fire Authority for the area in which the premises are situated, the Health and Safety Officer and such other bodies or parts of the Council itself as it thinks fit. The Council shall also seek and have regard to the recommendation of the Proper Officer and Superintendent Registrar.

As soon as it is practicable after receiving an application, the Council shall give public notice of the application for approval by advertisement in some newspaper circulating at least once a week in the area in which the premises is situated.

Such publication shall:

• identify the premises and the applicant in question
• indicate a location at which the application and the plan accompanying it may be inspected at reasonable hours during the working day
• notify the public of their right to object in writing within 21 days from the appearance of the publication to the Grant of Approval and the address to which such objection should be sent

Any such objection shall be in writing and will state the reasons for objection which will be considered by the Council as soon as practicable after receipt and before it reaches a final decision upon the application.

The Council shall notify the applicant and any objector in writing, of its final decision as soon as practicable. If that decision is unfavourable to the applicant or any objector, the Authority shall set out in its notification to that person its reasons for reaching that decision. If approval is refused, it shall also notify the applicant of the right to seek a review.

Expiry and renewal of approval

Provided the approval is not revoked by the Council an approval shall be valid for a period of five years.

Without prejudice to the provisions of the Regulations as to the duration or revocation of approval or any condition as to notification of change of ownership, any Grant of Approval shall endure for the benefit of the premises and of all persons for the time being interested in them.

Any approval shall only be renewable upon written notice given by the holder to the Registration Manager not less than six months or more than twelve months before it is due to expire.

The Proper Officer has determined that the procedure to be followed by the applicant and the Council in connection with an application for renewal of approval, shall be the same as for an application for the Grant of Approval.

Revocation of approval

The Council may revoke an approval if it is satisfied, after considering any representations from the holder, that the use or structure of the premises has changed so that any of the standard or local requirements cannot be met or the holder has failed to comply with one or more of the standard or local conditions attached to the approval.

The Registrar General may direct the Council to revoke an approval if, in his opinion and after considering any representations from the holder, there have been breaches of the law relating to marriage on the approved premises.

When an approval has been revoked the regulations require the former holder to notify any couples who had arranged to marry on the premises.

Reviews

An applicant who is aggrieved in relation to one or more of the following matters may seek review of the refusal of an approval or the attaching of any local discretionary conditions.

The holder of an approval who is aggrieved in relation to one or more of the following matters may seek review of a refusal to renew that approval or a decision to revoke the approval, otherwise than under paragraph 2 above.

Any such review shall lie to a Panel of elected Members of the Council. The procedure to be followed by such Panel as shall be determined by the Panel itself. The Panel may confirm the decision, rescind it or vary it with the imposition of fresh or further conditions.

The Registrar General shall consider representations from the holder of an approval before the Council directs the revocation of the approval.

A direction by the Registrar General to revoke an approval is not subject to review by the Council.

Registers of approved premises

The Proper Officer shall, within seven days thereof, notify the Registrar General of the grant, renewal or revocation of an approval and provide to him the information entered in the "Register of Approved Premises".

The Proper Officer shall keep the Register of Approved Premises containing:

• the name and full postal address of the approved premises
• the description of the room or rooms in which civil marriages are to be solemnised or the registration (formation) of civil partnerships
• the name and address of the holder of the approval
• the date of grant, renewal or revocation of approval
• the due date of expiry of that approval
• the name, address and occupation of the responsible person

The Proper Officer shall amend that Register on notification that any of the above information has changed.

The Register shall be open to public inspection during normal working hours.

The Register shall be kept in permanent form, which may include its maintenance on a computer.

The Register will be kept at the following address: Licensing Service, Municipal Buildings, Church Road, Stockton-On-Tees TS18 1LD.

Fees

1. The Council is entitled to set and charge such fee for the grant or renewal of an approval as it considers appropriate, provided that the fee charged in respect of anything done or included shall not exceed an amount which reasonably represents the costs incurred, or to be incurred by the Council in determining the application.
2. The fee with effect from 1st April is £1000.
3.  The Superintendent Registrar before whom a solemnization of civil marriage or registration (formation) of civil partnership in approved premises shall receive from the parties marrying/registering, a fee of an amount determined by the Council as reasonably representing the cost to it of a Registrar and the Superintendent Registrar or Civil Partnership Registrar's attendance.
4. The current fees are as follows.

These fees are subject to an annual review, please contact the Register Office for current fees.

Reviews

The fee for a review of an application following a refusal by the Council to grant or renew an approval is with effect from 1st April is £400.00.

The additional fee payable when a review is requested will be determined on the same basis as the fee for the application for approval and renewal but shall not apply to a review of a decision to revoke an approval.

Customs and Excise have advised that all these fees are exempt from VAT because they relate to a non-business activity by a Local Authority.

All the fees levied by the Council will be reviewed annually.