City of London (Approved Premises for Marriage) Act 1996

1996 CHAPTER iv

An Act to enable the approval of premises within the City of London (including the Temples) for the solemnization of civil marriages; and for connected purposes.

[18th July 1996]

WHEREAS—

(1)

The common council are responsible for providing the registration service for births, marriages and deaths within the City of London:

(2)

It is expedient that the common council should be empowered to approve premises within the city for the solemnization of marriages pursuant to section 26(1)(bb) of the [1949 c. 76.] Marriage Act 1949:

(3)

By ancient custom the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple exercise powers within the areas of the Inner Temple and the Middle Temple respectively (“the Temples”) concerning (inter alia) the regulation and governance of the Temples:

(4)

The Master of the Temple as holder from the Crown of the office of incumbent of the Temple Church exercises within the Temple those special privileges of the Crown which relate to his office:

(5)

The objects of this Act cannot be attained without the authority of Parliament:

May it therefore please Your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it enacted, by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the City of London (Approved Premises for Marriage) Act 1996.

2 Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires “the 1949 Act” means the [1949 c. 76.] Marriage Act 1949.

3 Approval of premises for marriage

(1) The common council shall be a local authority for the purposes of section 46A of the 1949 Act and may accordingly, in accordance with regulations under that section, approve premises for the solemnization of marriage in pursuance of section 26(1)(bb) of that Act.

(2) In consequence of subsection (1) above, in section 46A(3) of the 1949 Act for “or London borough council” there shall be substituted “London borough council or the Common Council of the City of London”.

4 Consultation with the Temples

(1) As soon as practicable after receiving an application relating to any premises situated within the Inner Temple or the Middle Temple the common council shall notify the Sub-Treasurer of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple (as respects premises in the Inner Temple) and the Under Treasurer of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple (as respects premises in the Middle Temple).

(2) Before granting approval in relation to any such premises the common council shall consult the Sub-Treasurer or, as the case may be, the Under Treasurer.

(3) Where any matter that falls to be considered in determining an application for any such approval is one that is material to the exercise by the Sub-Treasurer or the Under Treasurer of his functions under any enactment and he objects, with reference to that matter, to the grant of approval, the common council shall refuse approval.

5 Saving for rights of the Temples and the Master of the Temple

Nothing in this Act shall prejudice or affect any right, power or privilege of the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple or the Master of the Temple.