Registration Service Pricing Policy

1. Title and summary

1.1. The Registration Service Policy sets out the framework of pricing structures for the Registration Service within the context of the overarching corporate principles set out in the Corporate Pricing Policy Framework.

2. Purpose and Aims

The purpose of this policy is to provide an appropriate pricing framework for the Registration Service that will ensure services are accessible and affordable to all our citizens. The aims of the Policy are:

• to ensure charges are fair and equitable and support the Council’s objective to promote equality of opportunity;
• to operate a tariff of charges for the provision of Registration Services so as to recoup a reasonable proportion of Council’s expenditure in order to avoid an undue burden on ratepayers;
• to ensure that such charges, where relevant, are competitive within the context of existing market conditions;
• to maintain or increase the number of people utilising the Registration Service and so contribute to the economic wellbeing of our local service sector (e.g. use of Approved Venues and suppliers to said venues).
• to recognise Council’s social responsibility through the provision of certain low-cost services to benefit specific sectors of the community;
• to develop, implement and keep under review non statutory rates to promote the achievement of council objectives and strategies and ensure these are applied consistently throughout the Borough;
• to establish an annual pricing review process.

3. Context

3.1. In addition to the overarching principles set out in the Corporate Pricing Policy Framework this policy is reflective of General Registration Office for Northern Ireland legislative requirements, some of which are set out below;

• Births and Deaths Registration (NI) Order 1976
• Births and Deaths Registration Regulations (NI) 2012
• The Marriage (NI) Order 2003
• The Marriage (NI) Regulations 2003
• The Civil Partnership Act 2004
• General Register Office (Fees) Order (NI) 2016

4. Scope

4.1. This policy applies to all charges for the Registration Service. The Service Pricing Schedule (Appendix 1 and 2) will become operational on 1 April 2017.

4.2. The ability of the Council to charge for services it provides falls into two categories:

• Statutory charges - Charges are set nationally and regionally and local authorities have little or no opportunity to control such charges. (For example planning fees and registrar fees).
• Discretionary charges - Local authorities can make their own decisions on setting such charges. (For example car park charges, cemetery charges or leisure centre charges).

4.3. A table of charges is attached at Appendix 1.

4.4. A table of all current statutory charges is included at Appendix 2.

5. Harmonisation of Registration Service charges across the Borough

5.1. The majority of fees associated with the Registration Service are dictated by the GRONI who seek approval for fees through the NI Assembly. Discretionary fees are set for the following;

a) The inspection of approved premises
b) Registrar’s attendance at approved venues
c) Hire of Council rooms for marriage ceremonies*

5.2. Historically Registration Services have worked very closely together given their unique relationship with and within local Councils. The legacy Antrim, Newtownabbey, Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena Borough Councils have worked together since 2003 in preparation for the introduction of the Marriage (NI) Order 2003 to agree discretionary fees. Since then Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena Borough Councils have worked together in preparation for Local Government Reform to ensure consistency in discretionary fees across the new Borough in advance of 1 April 2015. 

[* The fees for room hire are not determined by the Registration Service]

6. Annual Pricing Review

6.1 An Annual Review of pricing will be conducted by 30 September each year as part of the budget setting process. Where appropriate annual reviews will take into account:

(a) Changes in GRO fees and charges;
(b) Inflationary pressures;
(c) Actual or potential impact of competition in terms of price and quality;
(d) Trends in user demand and the forecast effect of price variations;
(e) The results of customer feedback and surveys;
(f) Council and Service budget targets;
(g) Cost structure implications arising from developments such as investments in the service or changes in legislation affecting payroll costs;
(h) The collective impact of price variations on other service areas;
(i) The potential for more effective alternative charging structures;

7. Appendices

• Discretionary Pricing Schedule for Service
• Statutory Charges for Service

8. Monitoring, Evaluation and Review

As this is a new policy impacting across the range of Council services the Council will include close monitoring of implementation on a service by service basis through the relevant Council Committee i.e. Operations Committee for Leisure Services, Community Planning Committee for Community Services etc. Service Managers will consider customer feedback surveys as part of this process to assist with tracking the demographics of users, impact of policies, satisfaction levels etcetera.

9. Equality Screening

This policy has been equality screened with no adverse impact identified and therefore an Equality Impact Assessment is not required.