Bath & North East Somerset Council - Marriage and Civil Partnership approved venue licence application information

Marriage and Civil Partnership approved venue licence application information

Annex A, Annex B, Annex C, Annex D & Checklist for licensing of premises for Civil Ceremonies

Annex A

ANNEX A

APPLICATION FOR PREMISES TO BE APPROVED AS A VENUE FOR

MARRIAGES IN PURSUANCE OF SECTION 26(1)(bb) OF THE MARRIAGE ACT 1949 AND CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS IN PURSUANCE OF SECTION 6 (3A)(a) OF THE CIVIL PARTNERSHIP ACT 2004.

This application must be made by the proprietor or a trustee of the premises. If successful, the applicant will be the holder of the approval.

When completed, it should be forwarded to Ms Lyneve Thyer (for Proper Officer for Registration Services) at Bath and North East Somerset Council, Floor 4, Riverside Office, Temple Street, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1LA, together with the fee of £1500.00 payable to Bath & North East Somerset Council

1. I apply for the premises named at item 2 overleaf to be approved for the

solemnization of marriages and the registration of civil partnerships.

2. I attach 3 copies of a plan of the premises showing all the room(s) in which it is intended that marriages or civil partnerships will take place.

3. I understand that:-

a) the premises will be inspected for suitability before approval is granted and, if this application is successful, may be subject to subsequent inspection;

b) public notice of the application will be given by advertisement in a newspaper with a period of three weeks for objections;

c) approval, if granted, will be for a three year period, subject to revocation;

d) the premises must satisfy the local authority on fire precautions and health and safety provisions.

4. I declare that:-

a) I have read and understood the information contained in this form and Annexes B, C and D;

b) the building is not a register office or religious premises;

c) I have consulted the planning authority as to whether planning consent is required and attach evidence that it is content that the premises may be used in marriages or civil partnerships.

5. I further declare that, if approval is granted:-

a) the premises will be regularly available for public use for either the

b) solemnization of marriages or the registration of civil partnerships;

c) I will comply with the standard conditions (Annex B) and any local conditions attached to that grant of approval.

Annex B

Annex B

CONDITIONS TO GRANT OF APPROVAL

The following standard conditions from schedule 2 of the Regulations apply:

1. The holder of the approval must ensure that there is at all times an individual with responsibility for ensuring compliance with these conditions ("the responsible person") and that the responsible person's occupation, seniority, position of responsibility in relation to the premises, or other factors (his/her "qualification"), indicate that he/she is in a position to ensure compliance with these conditions.

2. The responsible person or, in his absence, an appropriately qualified deputy appointed by him/her, shall be available on the premises for a minimum of one hour prior to and throughout each ceremony.

3. The holder must notify the authority –

(a) of his/her name and address immediately upon him/her becoming the holder of an approval under regulation 7(2);

(b) of the name, address and qualification of the responsible person immediately upon the appointment of a new responsible person.

4. The holder must notify the authority immediately of any change to any of the following:-

(a) the layout of the premises, as shown on the plan submitted with the approved application, or in the use of the premises;

(b) the name or full postal address of the approved premises;

(d) the name or address of the holder of the approval;

(e) the name, address or qualification of the responsible person.

5. The approved premises must be made available at all reasonable times for

inspection by the authority.

6. A suitable notice stating that the premises have been approved for the

solemnisation of marriages in pursuance of Section 26(1)(bb) of the Marriage Act 1949 and registration of civil partnerships in pursuance of Section 6(3A)(a) of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 and identifying and giving directions to the room in which the proceedings are to take place must be displayed at each public entrance to the premises for one hour prior to and throughout the proceedings.

7. No food or drink may be sold or consumed in the room in which the proceedings take place for one hour prior to or during those proceedings.

8. All proceedings must take place in a room which was identified as one to be used for that purpose on the plan submitted with the approved application.

9. The room in which a marriage is solemnised or civil partnership registered must be separate from any other activity on the premises at the time of the proceedings.

10. The arrangements for and content of the proceedings must meet with the prior approval of the Superintendent Registrar of the district, or the registration authority of the area, as the case may be, in which the approved premises are situated.

11. Any reading, music, words or performance which forms part of a ceremony of marriage/civil partnership must be secular in nature. For this purpose, any such material used by way of introduction to, in any interval between parts of, or by way of conclusion to, the ceremony shall be treated as forming part of the ceremony.

12. Public access to any proceedings in approved premises must be permitted without charge.

13. Any reference to the approval of premises on any sign or notice, or on any stationery or publication, or within any advertisement may state that the premises have been approved by the authority as a venue for marriage in pursuance of section 26(1)(bb) of the Marriage Act 1949, and the formation of civil partnerships under section 6(3A)(a) of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 but shall not state or imply any recommendation of the premises or its facilities by the authority, the Registrar General or any of the officers or employees of either of them.

The following further conditions also apply to approval by Bath and North East Somerset Council:

14. A separate room should be available for pre-marriage/civil partnership questioning by the Registrar.

15. The maximum occupancy for each room as approved.

16. A parking space each should be provided for the Superintendent Registrar and the Registrar when they officiate at ceremonies.

Annex C

Annex C

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

RENEWAL

1. The holder may apply for the renewal of an approval when the current approval has less than twelve months to run. An application for renewal made in this period will extend the current approval until the application has been finally dealt with. A renewal will run from the expiry date of the current approval.

REVOCATION

2. The authority 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.

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

4. When an approval has been revoked the regulations require the former holder to notify any couples who had arranged to marry or register a civil partnership on the premises.

REVIEWS

5. An applicant may seek a review by the local authority of its decision to refuse to grant an approval, to attach local conditions, to refuse to renew an approval or to revoke an approval.

6. The review must be carried out by a different officer, committee or subcommittee than that which made the decision which is being appealed against. The review panel may confirm the decision, rescind it or vary it with the imposition of fresh or further conditions.

7. The authority may charge an additional fee for a review of its decision to refuse to grant an approval, to attach local conditions or to refuse to renew an approval.

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

REGISTRATION

9. Details of approved premises will be held for public inspection by the authority. These details will be copied to the Superintendent Registrar of the district the premises are situated in and to the Registrar General who will periodically circulate the details to all Superintendent Registrars.

Annex D

Annex D

GUIDANCE FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO MARRY/REGISTER CIVIL PARTNERSHIP ON APPROVED PREMISES

1. As soon as a couple have made provisional arrangements for their marriage/civil partnership on approved premises they should be advised to contact the Superintendent Registrar at The Guildhall, High Street, Bath BA1 5AW (Tel: 01225 477234).

2. Without the presence of this superintendent registrar and a registrar there can be no marriage/civil partnership and any arrangements for the use of the premises depend entirely on their availability. It is, therefore, essential that the couple make an advance booking with the Superintendent Registrar for his/her attendance at their proposed marriage/civil partnership as soon as a booking can be accepted. A fee for this attendance will be payable before the ceremony.

3. The couple will also have to give a notice of marriage/civil partnership to the Superintendent Registrar of the district in which they live. This notice must be given in person by one of the couple and is valid for twelve months. One of the couple should, therefore, attend the Register Office where they live as soon as possible.

4. The couple should be warned that any arrangements made for a marriage/civil partnership to take place on the approved premises are dependent on:

a) the attendance of the Superintendent Registrar and a Registrar for the district in which the premises are situated;

b) the issue of the authority or authorities for marriage/civil partnership by the Superintendent Registrar(s) to whom notice of marriage/civil partnership was given.

5. When notice is given in a different registration district from the one where the marriage/civil partnership is taking place, the couple will have to collect the authority before the ceremony and ensure that it is delivered to the

Registrar who is to attend the ceremony.

6. The couple should be advised that only a civil, non-religious ceremony can be permitted by the Superintendent Registrar. Any music, reading, words or performance which form any part of the ceremony must be secular. The content of the ceremony must be agreed in advance with the Superintendent Registrar who will be attending the ceremony.

7. Any rights of copyright for music, readings etc permitted at the ceremony are a matter for the couple and the holder of the approval.

Checklist for licensing of premises for Civil Ceremonies

CHECKLIST FOR LICENSING OF PREMISES FOR CIVIL CEREMONIES

1. The building must be a dignified venue in keeping with the solemnity of marriage/civil partnership ceremonies.

2. The Public must have unfettered access to witness the marriage/civil partnership and make objections prior to or during the ceremony.

3. There must be no recent or continuing religious connection with the building. A religious blessing may follow the civil ceremony. If, however, the religious blessings were to regularly follow marriage ceremonies, they may well be a religious connection which would breach the requirements and lead to the local authority revoking the approval.

4. Which rooms are to be licensed? Marriages may be held only in those rooms registered and they must be separate from any other activity while the marriage is taking place.

5. The Responsible Person or a deputy must be present for at least one hour prior to and throughout the ceremony.

6. A notice stating that the premises have been approved for the solemnization of marriages in pursuance of section 26(1)(bb) of the Marriage Act 1949 and civil partnerships in pursuance of section 6(3A)(a) of the Civil Partnership Act 2004 identifying and giving directions to the room in which the ceremony is to take place must be displayed at each public entrance to the premises for one hour prior to and throughout the ceremony.

7. No food or drink may be sold or consumed in the room for one hour to, or during the ceremony.

8. No provision is made for rehearsals with the Registration Officers but we shall need to be aware of the form of the ceremony before the date. The arrangements for and content of each ceremony must meet with the prior approval of the Superintendent Registrar. The ceremony must have no religious content-music, readings, church choirs etc.

9. There should be a separate area the Registrar may check the details with the couple before the ceremony.

10. The Registrar will need a table and chair at which to write. The Superintendent and couple may also need chairs.

11. PLEASE INFORM THE COUPLE TO CONTACT THE REGISTER OFFICE AS SOON AS THEY HAVE BOOKED THEIR CEREMONY WITH YOU.

We may not always be able to comply with the exact time they have requested.

12. There will be additional fees to be paid by the couple to the

Superintendent Registrar.

13. It may be necessary to reserve parking for the Registration Officers.

14. Civil Marriages/Partnerships may only take place between 8.00am and 6.00pm.

We would not take a booking for a civil ceremony after 5.00pm.

15. Where are the toilets and telephone if necessary?