Conditions of Hire - North Barrow Community Hall

Standard conditions of hire

These standard conditions apply to all bookings of North Barrow Community Hall.  If you are in any doubt as to the meaning of any of the conditions, please consult the booking secretary Gemma Dycer gem.dycer@gmail.com

Responsibility:  The hirer must be over the age of 21 and accepts the responsibility for all the conditions required for hiring the hall.  This requires the hirer to be on the premises at all times when the public is present and ensuring that all the conditions are met relating to the management and supervision of the premises. The Hirer, during the period of the hiring, will be responsible for the good care of the premises, the fabric and the contents, health and safety of themselves and all members of their group, including proper supervision of car parking arrangements so as to avoid obstruction of the lane outside and all exits from the premises. The hirer should make good, or pay for any damage to the hall and/or contents (including accidental damage) which exceeds the £50 deposit which will be cashed if necessary. Any equipment brought to the hall is the hirer's responsibility.  The committee does not accept any liability for items belonging to the hirer. All events must be finished by 12 midnight including clearing away.

Use of premises:  The hirer must not use the premises for any other purpose than that described in the hiring agreement on the booking form.  Please inform the booking secretary before bringing any extra equipment to the hall.  Nothing should be affixed to the walls, doors, floors or ceiling of the building.  Do not lend keys for the hall to any person not named on the booking form.  Keys must not be copied in any circumstances. Hirers are reminded that they are responsible for any accident or injury arising out of the activity for which they have booked the premises. It is the responsibility of the hirer to ensure that the premises are safe for the purpose for which they intend to use them. 

Insurance and indemnity:  North Barrow Community Hall has insurance to cover its own equipment and contents.  This insurance does not cover any of the hirer’s own equipment whether brought into the hall or stored on the premises.

All regular users therefore, are recommended to arrange their own insurance cover for their own equipment   for use by their group and arrange cover for any personal injury sustained whilst involved in the activity provided by the hirer.  There is public liability for one-off events but this is at the discretion of the committee.  If the group using the hall has its own insurance cover, this will take precedence over the cover provided by North Barrow Community Hall. North Barrow Community Hall is insured against any claims arising from its own negligence.

Public safety compliance: The hirer shall comply with all conditions and regulations made in respect of the premises by the Local Authority, the Licensing Authority and the hall’s Fire Risk Assessment, particularly in connection with any event which constitutes regulated entertainment, at which alcohol is sold or provided or which is attended by children. The Hirer shall not use the premises for any purpose other than the purpose stated on the booking form. The Hirer shall not sub-hire or use the premises or allow the premises to be used for any unlawful purpose or in any unlawful way nor do anything to bring onto the premises anything which may endanger the same or render invalid any insurance policies in respect thereof.  All decorations or other added items must be fire retardant.

  •      The hirer must ensure that all means of exit from the premises are kept free of obstruction and immediately available for instant public evacuation.
  •      Do not obstruct the fire doors and all doors must be immediately available for instant free public exit.
  •      Please do not use naked flames

 

Teenage Parties: We do not accept bookings for teenage parties (aged 13-21). Whilst the committee does not intend to discriminate against any age group, teenagers pose an added level of risk to themselves, the hall and the neighbourhood..  We have experienced major problems in the past with no parental control leading to gate-crashers, broken property, excessive dirt, smoking on the premises, smashed glass in all areas leading to danger for other users and neighbours.  There was also major damage to the fire safety equipment. We will accept a family party where the main participants are over the age of 21. If you wish to discuss this further, please contact the booking secretary.

Gaming, betting and lotteries:  The hirer shall ensure that nothing is done in contravention of the law relating to gaming, betting and lotteries.

Music, copyright licensing:  North Barrow Hall holds relevant licences under the Performing Rights Society (PRS).  Where appropriate, the hirer is responsible for arranging their own licences.

Children Act 2004:  The hirer shall ensure that any activities for children comply with the Children Act 2004 and only fit and proper persons who have passed the appropriate Criminal Records Bureau checks should have access to the children.

Food safety: The Hirer shall, if preparing, serving or selling food observe all relevant food health and hygiene legislation and regulations.  There is a list of Do's and Don'ts for food safety displayed in the kitchen

Smoking, drugs and vaping: Smoking or use of drugs are not permitted anywhere on the premises or surrounding areas, this includes e-cigarettes.

Electrical safety: The Hirer shall ensure that any electrical appliances brought by him/her to the premises and used there shall be safe and in good working order, and should be used in a safe manner. If equipment brought into the building is faulty this could result in the electric trip switches being activated and the resultant loss of power will be the responsibility of the hirer.   Any electrical item brought to hall must be declared with the booking and be covered by a current PAT test. In the event that the hirer's equipment causes an electrical fault that causes the hall to incur costs to remedy, then the hirer is responsible for those costs.

Noise: The Hirer is responsible that good order is maintained during the period of hire where sound amplification is used ensuring that no disturbance or nuisance is caused to persons in the locality giving rise to a formal complaint. The Hirer shall ensure that the minimum of noise is made on arrival and departure. 

Internet: The Community Hall provides access to the Internet via a WiFi network free of charge.  Users of the hall (“You”) are able to use this facility subject to the following terms:

  1. Access: You will be given a password to enable you to access the WiFi service.  You may only access the WiFi service while you are hiring the hall.
  2. Purposes: You may not use the facilities for:
     - Unlawful or illegal activity;
     - Commercial purposes, unless authorised by the Village Hall Committee in writing;
     - Uploading computer viruses, carrying out hacking, uploading/downloading defamatory, offensive or illegal material;
     - Breaching confidentiality or intellectual property rights
  3. Technology: The Wifi service is provided “as is”.  The Community Hall provides no guarantees that your equipment such as a phone, laptop PC, tablet or other device will work successfully at the hall.  
    - The availability and speed of the service is not guaranteed nor is a continuous connection.  The Community Hall does not provide any form of technical support for the WiFi service.
  4. Privacy: We will not collect any personally identifiable information when providing the WiFi service.  Our router may collect technical information from your device necessary to provide access to the Internet, which may be logged to detect crime or where necessary to block access from a specific device.
  5. Security: The Community Hall is not responsible for the purpose to which you put your devices or the content of any websites you visit.  We do not take any responsibility for any malware, viruses, hacking or other unwanted effects on your devices: it is your responsibility to protect yourself from such effects.
  6. Fair use: You may not use the WiFi service in such a way as to deny reasonable access to the network for other users, for example by excessive use of network bandwidth for very large downloads or high definition video streaming.
  7. Our liability: We shall not be liable to you in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty or otherwise arising for
     - Loss of income or revenue
     - Loss of business;
     - Loss of profits or contracts;
     - Loss of anticipated savings;
     - Loss of opportunity or goodwill;
     - Loss of, damage to, or corruption, of data; 
     - Indirect or consequential loss of any kind.
  8. Indemnity: You agree to indemnify both the Community Hall and its Trustees against all liabilities, claims, losses or damages (including legal fees and other expenses) that may arise as a result of your connection to the Village Hall WiFi.

The hall also has a registered TV licence.

Bouncy Castles: It is essential that the manufacturers and hire company’s instructions are followed.  Children must be closely supervised by an adult over the age of 21 at all times.

Heating: The controller for the heating is on the wall to the left of the front door, next to the fire alarm panel. To initiate 

         Press the button once. Turns on for 30 mins  = 1 red light

         Press twice. Turns on for 1 hour  =  2 red lights

         Press three times. Turns on for 2 hours = 3 red lights

Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences: The Hirer must report all accidents involving injury to the public to a member of the village hall committee (all contact numbers are on the front door) as soon as possible.  Please report any breakages or problems in the file for this purpose that is located in the kitchen.

 When you have finished at the hall

  • Wash all tables thoroughly before putting away.
  • Stack all furniture to the right hand side of the store cupboard door.  
  • Stack chairs 7 high away from the wall and then stack folded tables against them please.
  • Please note that 3 tables and about 6 chairs stay in the main hall.  The committee room has 2 tables and a few chairs.
  • Make sure all crockery and cutlery are clean and put away, do not leave in dishwasher.
  • Wipe down all work surfaces in the kitchen.
  • Use the large broom, mop and bucket in the disabled loo to sweep up the hall.
  • Nappies – please take all nappies home with you 
  • All rubbish to be put in large black dustbin outside.  Anything that does not fit must be taken away by the hirer
  • Recycled items, such as bottles, plastics, cans and paper must be recycled, any excess taken home with you.

 As you leave

  • Lights are turned off, please check the toilets
  • All radiators to be turned back to the * mark or you could incur a further fuel surcharge
  • Rubbish in bins outside or taken away
  • Windows and doors secured
  • Both main gate and pedestrian gate to be shut
  • Return the keys to Tony Katz

Severability: If any part of the Terms and Conditions are found to be unlawful or unenforceable, the enforceability of the remaining Terms will not be affected

                                                                       Updated September 2023