The Friendly Societies (General Charge and Fees) Regulations 2001

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations provide for a general charge to be paid by friendly societies towards the expenses of the Friendly Societies Commission. The charge is levied with respect to the Commission’s accounting year beginning 1st April 2001 and is expected to raise £1.7 million (an increase of 5% from that raised for the accounting year beginning 1st April 2000). In accordance with Schedule 1, each society is required to pay 0.57% of its “specified income” for the year to 31st December 2000, subject to a minimum charge of £375 and a maximum of £50,000. (Under the Friendly Societies (General Charge and Fees) Regulations 2000 (“the 2000 Regulations”) the percentage was 0.55%, and the minimum and maximum £350 and £47,000 respectively.)

These Regulations also, by regulations 5 and 6 and Schedule 2 and 3, require and prescribe fees to be paid for matters transacted under the Friendly Societies Act 1974 or the Friendly Societies Act 1992. These have been increased by an average of 3.3 per cent. The increases are confined to certain items in Schedule 2 and 3, and the following table shows the relevant amounts payable under the 2000 Regulations and under these Regulations.

Paragraph in Schedule 2 to the 2001 Regulations	Fee under the 2000 Regulations	Fee under the 2001 Regulations
£	£
1.  For the incorporation of a friendly society and the registration of the friendly society’s rules— (a) where it relates to a new friendly society	940	980
(b) where it relates to an existing society
2.  For the registration of a branch	205	220
5.  Registration of an annual return (b) in the case of an annual return or set of annual accounts for a year of account subsequent to one ended on or before 31st December 2000 (iv) where it relates to a society	140	150
(v) where it relates to a branch	65	70
(b) in the case of an annual return or a set of a
6.  The fees specified in this paragraph shall be payable where the society or branch concerned has by notice made an election under paragraph 5 of this Schedule: (a) for the acknowledgement of registration of an amendment to rules (including approval of name in the case of an amendment effecting a change of name of a society or a branch)— (i) if the amendment substitutes an entire set of rules for the existing set of rules (except as provided in paragraph 19 of this Schedule)— (a) where made by a society	525	560
(b) where made by a branch	170	185
(ii) if the amendment does not substitute an entire set of rules for the existing set of rules— (a) where made by a society	260	280
(b) where made by a branch	70	75
(e) for the acknowledgement of registration of an alteration of the memorandum of an incorporated friendly society	285	300
7.  For the registration of a special resolution— (a) where the special resolution relates to an amalgamation or a transfer of engagements	400	410
11.  For the registration of an instrument of dissolution (a) of a society	450	485
(b) of a branch	330	350
15.  Investigation with view to dissolution	900	1,000
16.  Other documents signed by Registrar	45	50
17.  For the approval of a form of model rules relating to a society registered as a working man’s club submitted by a sponsoring association or body	1,000	1,080
24.  For the registration of a copy of an instrument of transfer of engagements	185	190

Paragraph in Schedule 3 to the 2001 Regulations	Fee under the 2000 Regulations	Fee under the 2001 Regulations
	£	£
1.  Inspection of file—	8	10
2.  Provision of a copy of 10 pages minimum rather than 5 pages