Hall Hire Terms & Conditions

St Laurence-in-Thanet Team Ministry

Church and hall premises
Terms and conditions of hire
2020

Booking

All booking applications must be in writing on the booking form provided. The person signing this form will be considered the Hirer. Where an organisation is named in the application the organisation will also be considered the Hirer and shall be jointly and severally liable with the person who signs this form. We are unable to offer the hall for hire for any political meetings.

Unlocking and locking up

The premises will be unlocked for you at the start of your hire time and the same person will return to lock up at the end of your hire time unless have been given a key, in which case it must be returned immediately after the end of the hiring.

Deposit and payment

The Hirer will pay a deposit of £100.00 at the time of booking. This will be returned within 30 days of the event, via on line banking subject to any sums withheld to meet the cost of rectifying damage arising during the hiring. The balance of the hiring fee must be paid at least two weeks prior to the hiring taking place.

Supervision and responsibility

The Hirer will during the period of hiring be responsible for supervision of the premises, the fabric and the contents, their care, safety from damage however slight and the behaviour of all persons using the premises whatever their capacity including proper supervision of car-parking arrangements so as to avoid danger to members of the public and obstruction of the public highway.

Completion of hire

At the end of hiring, the Hirer shall be reponsible for leaving the premises and surrounds in a clean and tidy condition, properly locked and secured unless directed otherwise by authorised representatives of St Laurence-in-Thanet Team Ministry and any contents temporarily removed from their usual positions properly replaced. Should this not be complied with St Laurence-in-Thanet Team Ministry reserves the right to make an additional charge which may be deducted from the deposit paid.

Safeguarding

In the event that the hiring involves the attendance of children and young persons under the age of 18 or Vulnerable Adults at the premises, the Hirer confirms that appropriate Child and/or Adult Protection Procedures will be in place.  If the hiring is   a regular arrangement it will be necessary for the leaders involved to have attended Safeguarding training and that a certificate of their attendance can be provided. The Hirer agrees to ensure that all adults present on the premises are aware of these Procedures and will abide by them. The Hirer confirms that, when necessary under  the terms of Child and/or Adult Protection Procedures, appropriate Criminal Records checks from the Disclosure and Barring Service will be carried out in respect of  persons involved with children, young people or vulnerable adults on the premises during the course of the hiring.

Parking

The hire of the premises does not include the use of any parking facilities. Please   encourage those attending to park in convenient on street parking spaces. Exception applies to St Mark’s where hiring includes the use of the parking facilities, however we reserve the right to ask cars relating to this hiring to be removed or prevents from pacing on site due to funerals or other concurrent or overlapping activities at the Church.

Exclusions

The Hirer shall not use the premises for any purposes other than that described in the Hiring Agreement and 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 on to the premises anything which may endanger the premises or any insurance policies connected with the premises.

Alcohol

These are not licensed premises and no alcohol can be sold thereon without a licence from the local authority. Should the Hirer wish to bring drinks onto the premises for private and moderate consumption, written notice of this is to be provided at the time of booking.

Smoking

The entire premises, grounds and car park are No Smoking Zones.

Music

The Hirer undertakes to satisfy any requirements under performing rights for the performing or playing of live or recorded music. Any Hirer who intends to play music or have a live band agrees to inform the Parish Administrator in writing at the time of booking. The Hirer undertakes to ensure that all noise is kept to a level such that neighbours of the church premises are not unduly disturbed. The Hirer agrees in any event to terminate all loud noise on the premises at 11.00 pm.

Public safety

The Hirer shall comply with all conditions and regulations made in respect of the premises by the Fire Authority, Local Authority, the Magistrate’s Court or otherwise, particularly in connection with any event which includes public dancing or music or other similar public entertainment or stage plays and shall ensure that such events shall not involve the infringement of any copyrights or performing rights.
Where the purpose for which the premises are hired includes dancing, the Hirer shall not cause or allow the maximum number of patrons and/or guests admitted to exceed the number specified on the application form.

Emergencies

In anticipation of an emergency it is the Hirer's responsibility to ensure that they know the location of first aid kits, stopcocks, the nearest hospital and the like.

Damage

The Hirer shall indemnify St Laurence in Thanet Team Ministry for the cost of repair of any damage done to any part of the property including the surroundings or the contents of the building which may occur during the period of the hiring as a result of the hiring.
The Hirer shall not interfere in any way with the heating controls, electricity or gas fittings, meter fittings or fixtures on the premises.
It is the responsibility of the Hirer to ensure that the electricity supply is appropriate for any equipment used and that any equipment used will not endanger, overload or damage the electricity supply, circuits, wiring, plugs, sockets, switchboards or other equipment.
Any rubbish (food and recyclable items) must be disposed externally and not in the church refuse containers.
Chairs and tables must not be dragged across the floor and should be stored as they were found at the end of the hire period.

Insurance

The Hirer acknowledges that the loss of any items left unattended is not covered by the church’s insurance cover.
The  Hirer  is  responsible  for  ensuring  that they have  any  necessary  Public  Liability Insurances that may be appropriate.

Cancellation

If the Hirer wishes to cancel the booking before the date of the event and is unable to conclude a replacement booking, the question of the payment or the repayment of the fee shall be at the discretion of the Parish Administrator.
St Laurence in Thanet Team Ministry reserves the right to cancel this hiring in the event of the premises being required for use as a polling station, for a parliamentary or local government election or bye election in which case the Hirer shall be entitled to a refund of any deposit already paid. Even if the Hirer has a regular booking for the hire of the premises St Laurence in Thanet Team Ministry reserves the right to renew, vary or cancel any such regular arrangements. This right will not be unreasonably enforced.
In the event of the premises or any part thereof being rendered unfit for the use of which it has been hired St Laurence in Thanet Team Ministry shall not be liable to the Hirer for any resulting loss or damage whatsoever.

Access

The Hirer shall allow any duly authorised officer of St Laurence Team Ministry access to the premises or any part thereof at all times during the hiring.

Restrictions

St Mark’s hall does not allow bouncy castles, heavy equipment or stiletto heel shoes.

Rubbish

All rubbish from the event must be taken away by the hirer. The only execption is used paper hand towels and these should be placed in the bins provided.