Faculty Petition - advice please

[David Beacham]

As a recently retired DAC bell advisor I thought I knew all about the
faculty application process. However, a petition  to install a flat 6th in
my own church (Worcester, All Saints) has got hung up on a late direction by 
the Diocesan Registrar. The petition had completed all the usual processes, 
i.e. consultation with the DAC, English Heritage and the Georgian Group (it 
being an C18 church) and no objections raised. Now, the Registrar is saying 
that it also needs to be referred to the Local Authority and a Public Notice 
inserted in the local press. He cites the Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2000, 
Sections 13 (3) and (4) and Appendix B as requiring this action.

I have never before heard of a faculty application to augment a ring being
subject to approval by the Local Authority. Furthermore, since part of the
application process requires the churchwardens to display a Citation (i.e.a
Public Notice) on the church's notice board for a period of 28 days, and
which they did weeks ago, why on earth should further notice be required by 
way of a notice in the local paper?

The Faculty Jurisdiction Rules 2000 may be found at
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2000/20002047.htm#13

Can anyone out there with the required specialist (legal) knowledge say
whether or not the Diocesan Registrar is interpreting the rules correctly?
Has any other church had to involve the Local Authority in this way in
recent times?

DB