THIS REPORT RELATES STIRLING COUNCIL TO ITEM ON THE AGENDA REGULATORY FUNCTIONS PANEL CORPORATE SERVICES 31 MAY 2005 NOT EXEMPT LICENSING - WEDDING VENUE CERTIFICATES & FEES 1 PURPOSE 1.1 To report to the Panel on the work undertaken by the Licensing Section in respect of Civil Wedding Venues. 2 SUMMARY 2.1 Changes in legislation in 2002 allowed Civil Weddings to take place outwith Registration Offices. 2.2 The Licensing Section process applications to licence venues for the use of Civil weddings. The Licensing Section make arrangements for the venues to be inspected and, also consult with applicants and Registration Staff on approval for venues. 2.3 The Panel set the fee of £200 for a Permanent Approval and the duration of the licence (three years) in 2002. 2.4 The Panel set the fee of £200 for a Temporary Approval and the duration (one day) in 2002. 2.5 The first renewal dates for Permanent Approvals are due this year. 3 RECOMMENDATION(S) 3.1 It is recommended that the Panel:- 3.1.1 Note the contents of the Report; 3.1.2 Note there are no proposed changes to the Licensing fees as detailed in the report; 3.1.3 Agree the Duration of the Permanent Approval as detailed in the report. N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\REGULATORY\REPORTS\RF20050531WEDDINGVENUE.DOC 4 CONSIDERATIONS 4.1 The Licensing Staff have processed 38 applications for Permanent Approval and 28 applications for Temporary Approval. The Permanent Approval is issued for 3 years and the Temporary Approval for one day. Lists of venues that have been approved are appended to this report. (See Appendix 1). 4.2 The Licensing Section carried out a Benchmarking exercise in 2003 with all other Local Authorities and there was a great deal of variation in the fees and the numbers of ceremonies carried out. It was noted at that time, that other Authorities, charged Permanent Approval Holders per room. In Stirling all Permanent Certificates include all the rooms in the one fee. 4.3 When the new legislation was introduced the Licensing Section set the fee at £200 to encourage people to use the Temporary Approval process. It was felt then that there was little interest from the Hotels and the larger venues that might have been interested in Permanent Approvals. 4.4 The number of wedding venue applications in the Stirling area compare very favourably with other Councils, both in terms of permanent and temporary venues. The Temporary Approval applications amount to 75% of our applications and these are issued only for one day. It is felt that the fee for a small wedding such as a party of four on the banks of Loch Katrine or other scenic locations is pretty viable and that the 75% turnaround reflects this. There are no proposed changes to the Fee or Duration of Licence for the Temporary Venue. 4.5 The Permanent Approvals are presently issued for 3 years and on various occasions throughout the last 3 years the Permanent Approval Holders have asked for changes i.e. for other areas to be included in the Certificate. This would normally mean another site visit therefore the Licensing Section have requested another application be lodged or, that the Approval Holder look at requesting this on renewal. 4.6 In addition the Marriage Regulations allow for a change of approval holder (no fee) and this has happened quite frequently. This means that an entirely new person can take over the Wedding Venue Consent and have no knowledge of the arrangements agreed on rooms, accommodation or, conditions. The licences also have to be re-issued. 4.7 Given that most of the Permanent Approval venues are licensed hotels they are transferred regularly and given the number of requests for changes it is thought that the duration of these licences should now be set at 1 year. This then means that even if a new approval holder is registered with the Licensing Section a site visit will be carried out quicker. The details of the approval and the Conditions (which are attached) will be brought to the Approval Holders attention much quicker and any changes can be discussed at the time of the site visit. 4.8 As far as the Permanent Approval process is concerned, this is still felt to be good value as, initially, it was thought that the fees for this type of consent would probably be in the region of £1000. 4.9 The numbers of weddings carried out in each Permanent venue can be seen from the list appended to this report (See Appendix 2). If there are any Permanent Approval Holders who feel they do not benefit in a big way from the approval process, they can if they wish offset the cost by advising the couple to use the Temporary Process. N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\REGULATORY\REPORTS\RF20050531WEDDINGVENUE.DOC 4.10 There is no proposed change to the fees for either the Permanent or Temporary Approvals. 5 POLICY IMPLICATIONS 5.1 None. 6 CONSULTATIONS 6.1 John Risk, Head of Customer Services. 7 RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS 7.1 None. 8 BACKGROUND PAPERS 8.1 Lists of Approved Venues. Author(s) Name Designation Tel No/Extension Margaret Morrison Administrative Officer 443372 (Licensing) Approved by Name Designation Signature Bob Jack Director of Corporate Services Date 16/05/05 Reference MWM N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\REGULATORY\REPORTS\RF20050531WEDDINGVENUE.DOC APPENDIX 1 STIRLING COUNCIL WEDDING VENUE CERTIFICATE (TEMPORARY) (31 AS AT 28/04/05) Premises Accommodation/Capacit Approval Holder Expiring y NO 1 Edinample Castle Private Dwelling John F Britten 26/10/02 South Lochearn Road Woking Lochearnhead Great Hall - 80 2 Winnock Hotel Licensed Hotel Harry Paton 09/11/02 Drymen Balfron Oak Room – 60 Garden Room – 150 3 Monachyle Mhor Hotel Licensed Hotel Norma Ritchie 09/11/02 Balquhidder Aberdeen Marquee in Garden Grounds –110 4 Marquee in Grounds Private Dwelling Mrs Meg Duckworth 26/07/03 Dundarroch Fintry Fintry Marquee in Grounds – 80 5 Doune Castle Historic Premises Alison Fraser 28/06/03 Doune Bannockburn The Lords Hall – 60 6 The Winnock Hotel Licensed Hotel Tracy H Cochran 12/04/03 The Square Glasgow Drymen The Oak Room – 90 7 Stirling Castle Historic Premises Stuart West & Lyn 04/10/03 The Esplanade Murphy Stirling Great Hall – 75 Kent 8 Logie Cottage Private Dwelling David Ian Hall 31/05/03 Front Garden Stirling Logie Garden & Grounds – 150 Stirling 9 Logie Cottage Open Space David Ian Hall 31/05/03 Marquee in field Stirling adjacent to Logie Marquee in Field – 150 Stirling 10 Fiddlers Bay Private Dwelling Ewan MacKay 20/09/03 Marquee Aberdeen By Ardeonaig Marquee – 150 Killin 11 Monachlye Mhor Hotel Licensed Hotel Julie K Bain 18/06/03 Marquee in Garden Johannesburg Grounds Marquee – 50/60 N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\REGULATORY\REPORTS\RF20050531WEDDINGVENUE.DOC Premises Accommodation/Capacit Approval Holder Expiring y NO Balquhidder 12 Summit of Ben Lui Scenic Location Angela J Mitchell 05/06/03 (GR: 266263) Aberdeen Near Tyndrum 4 persons 13 Trossachs Pier Scenic Location Brian E Hughes 22/07/03 Loch Katrine Newcastle By Callander Footpath near Pier FK17 8HZ 4 persons 14 Monachlye Mhor Scenic Location Leslie D Lawrence 13/09/03 Balquhidder Glasgow FK19 8PQ Stone near Hotel with view of Loch 15 Dalkenneth Private Dwelling Rodney Kennard 20/09/03 Lochearnhead Edinburgh FK19 8PZ (within premises) 16 Monachlye Mhor Licensed Hotel Simon P Platt 06/11/03 Balquhidder Edinburgh FK19 8PQ 17 Marquee in garden Private Dwelling John Harrison Speake 26/06/04 Chartershall House Chartershall Chartershall Stirling FK7 8HE 18 Grounds of The New Holiday Cabins Nichola Lynne Ward 12/04/04 Log Cabin and Benjamin C Shaw The Holt Pier Road Killin 19 4 Millbrae Private Dwelling Rebecca Maxwell 07/05/04 Gargunnock Stirling FK8 3BB 20 Strathyre Forest Cabins Holiday Cabins William Walsh 26/06/04 Cabin 30 and Kirrie Evans Callander FK17 8HF 21 Brunton of Boquhan Private Dwelling Ruth E Morley 14/08/04 Inch of Leckie Road and Robert I Ellior Kippen FK8 3JL 22 Grounds of Monachyle Licensed Hotel Duncan D M Campbell 07/08/04 Mhor Hotel Balquhidder Lochearnhead N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\REGULATORY\REPORTS\RF20050531WEDDINGVENUE.DOC Premises Accommodation/Capacit Approval Holder Expiring y NO FK19 8PQ 23 Marquee Private Dwelling Mrs Meg Duckworth 18/09/04 Dundarroch Fintry G63 0YH 24 Terraces Hotel Licensed Hotel Carol M Lynch 28/05/05 4 Melville Terrace Stirling FK8 2ND 25 Trossachs Trout Farm Trout Farm Martin Croy 25/09/04 Invertrossachs Road Callander 26 Rowardennan Youth Youth Hostel William J Morrison 06/11/04 Hostel Rowardennan Glasgow G63 0AR 27 Foot of Helen’s Pool & Farm Brendon Robinson 10/09/05 Waterfall or Barn Ledard Farm Kinlochard Aberfoyle FK8 3TZ 28 Tigh an Eilean Cottage Self Catering Cottage Christina R Walsh 07/06/05 Gray Street Killin FK21 8SW 29 Lemahamish Private dwelling Emma Jane Bell 21/05/05 Pendreich Road Graeme Buchanan Bridge of Allan Tarner FK9 4LY 30 The Gart Private Dwelling Dr Paula F B Baillie- 28/05/05 Callander Hamilton FK17 8LE 31 Mugdock Country Park Private Dwelling Iain Arnott 07/08/05 Craigallan Road Nr Milngavie Glasgow G62 8EL N:\DEMSUPP\NEWDECISIONS\REGULATORY\REPORTS\RF20050531WEDDINGVENUE.DOC APPENDIX 2 STIRLING COUNCIL APPROVED WEDDING VENUES (38 AS AT 24/03/05) Premises Approval Holder Accom/Capacity Responsible Expiring Person NO 1 Albert Halls Community Hall Main Hall – 598 Diane Rae & 31/07/06 Dumbarton Rd Lesser Hall – 120 Jess Brown Stirling Stirling Council FK8 2QL Per Diane Rae Viewforth 01786 449196 Stirling 2 Altskeith Hotel Licensed Hotel Snuggery – 35 Tim Willis 31/03/07 Lochard Road Kinlochard Tim Willis Aberfoyle Altskeith Hotel FK8 3TL Lochard Road Kinlochard Aberfoyle FK8 3TL 3 Ardeonaig Hotel