Hiring the Church Halls
Description of the halls and ratesBack to download the Hire forms
Health and Safety in the Halls
The Parochial Church Council recognises that health and safety is a concern which all must share and we will be issuing concrete guidance from our insurers to all hall users in due course.In the meantime, while that guidance is compared, we should like to take this opportunity to remind you that
- car parks are dangerous places, and everyone attending either site must take care. Children must be held on to at all times and not allowed to run on to the tarmac; and those whose senses and mobility may not be as sharp as they used to be must also take especial care.
- you as a hirer and everyone in your group share responsibility for the safety of all users of the hall.
The Parish Hall, the Brodie Hall and S Philip’s Hall have had a safe escape route marked out on the floor with standardised green and white emergency markings. Where a route has been marked out on the floor, this area must be kept entirely clear AT ALL TIMES. Space for equipment storage, where available, is to be delineated in red tape and this area must not be exceeded. It is an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and other legislation to interfere with safety equipment, including markings and signage and equipment such as fire extinguishers and alarm systems.
A defect report book will be provided in all the halls, together with an accident report book, and you must use this to report any breakages or other items requiring our attention, together with accidents and near-misses. If you carry out fire evacuation drills, it would be helpful to record these as well. This is in addition to any accident or other recording you undertake for your group. If you cannot find the book, you must send details IN WRITING to the PCC Secretary, whose address is on the print version of this letter which we will send you. An urgent communication may also be made by telephone but you must provide confirmation in writing. The Secretary of the PCC has delegated authority from the Council including the Vicar and Churchwardens for all aspects of Health and Safety in the halls.
Where food is stored, prepared or served on our premises, we expect you to abide by relevant Food Safety legislation. The refrigerator in the Brodie Hall is not available to hirers; the PCC’s fridges at S Philip’s and S Augustine’s Hall are available. Any food left in a fridge must be clearly labelled with details of whose it is, the date it was stored and the date it must be used by. Food which is found to be out of date or not labelled will be disposed of.
If you bring electrical equipment into the halls, it must have passed a PAT test within the last year (the PCC may be able to arrange a test for you at a discounted rate; please ask). The PCC will not pay for the testing of your equipment, nor for any safety training required. If you are required to display statutory notices, you must still consult the PCC about doing so.
Where children and young people are involved in your activities, we expect you to abide by relevant Child Safety legislation, including obtaining CRB Disclosures where appropriate and limiting the attendance of adults for whom you do not have an empty disclosure. If you do not have an umbrella body for obtaining disclosures, the PCC may be able to arrange this for you. You will remain responsible for the cost.
For the avoidance of doubt, this page forms part of the Conditions of Hire of the halls in the parish, in addition to the other terms published on our website. When we have collated the guidance from our insurers, we plan to issue a consolidated set of hiring conditions. Nothing here alters the existing general Condition of Hire that you must submit to any instruction by an officer of the council in respect of your usage of the halls. The Parochial Church Council may inspect all aspects of compliance at any time and, while we hope that any problems with hall use can be solved with discussion and agreement, the PCC reserves the right to correct any shortcomings or require you to do so.
It may be that your group will not be directly affected by any matter in this page, but you will need to be aware of the significance of floor markings in the hall you use, and you also need to note how to report defects and accidents. If you have any concern about your use of the hall please raise the matter with the PCC Secretary.
The PCC would like to thank you for your interest in using our facilities and we trust that we will be able to work together for the benefit of the members of your group and all hall users.
