Agenda item

(A)      Update to Scheme of Delegations – proposing amendments to the Scheme of Delegations associated with Marriage Licensing.

24 January 2017

Update to the Scheme of Delegations: Marriage Licensing

Under the Marriage Act 1949, the Court of Common Council has authority to grant licences to premises for the solemnisation of marriages. This function had previously been delegated to the Town Clerk. However, all other aspects of registration (births, deaths, marriages) had been delegated to the Director of Community and Children’s Services.

It was therefore proposed to update the Scheme of Delegations such that responsibility for marriage premises licensing was also delegated to the Director of Community and Children’s Services, rather than the Town Clerk, thereby regularising all marriage registration and licensing functions into a single Department.

In addition, the reference in the Scheme referring to the delegation being under Section 29 of the Local Government Act had also been identified as incorrect, as the reference should have been to the Registration Service Act 1953. Accordingly, it was also proposed to update the Scheme of Delegations to correct this reference.

RESOLVED: That the amendments to the Scheme of Delegations set out in the report be approved, such that:-

·     authority to grant licences to premises for the solemnisation of marriages moves from the Town Clerk to the Director of Children’s and Community Services; and

·     the wording within the Scheme be updated to refer to the correct legislation.