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Rules and Conditions Governing the Hiring of Spaces at

St Thomas’s Finsbury Park

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This agreement covers the letting of any of the church premises.

 

The management of the lettings is by the Parochial Church Council (“the PCC”) St Thomas the Apostle Finsbury Park.  The PCC is empowered to make rules, or to withdraw or amend them at any time.

 

1. Use of the Church facilities

Use of the facilities is subject to the following rules and conditions.

 

2. Equal Opportunities

We are committed to providing services on a fair and equitable basis, in accordance  with our Mission Statement and our Statement of Inclusiveness, both of which can be found on this website.

 

3. Applying to use the Church facilities

 

a) Applications for use of the Church facilities shall be made to the Hall Bookings Secretaries.

b) All arrangements for the use of the facilities are subject to the PCC reserving the right to cancel bookings and refunding any deposit paid.

c) The PCC shall have priority use of the facilities, including the right to suspend lettings, for example when the space is required for church purposes.

 

4. Safety Regulations

 

Nothing shall be done which will endanger the users of the building, or invalidate the policies of insurance relating to it and its contents. In particular:

 

a) obstructions must not be placed in gangways or exits, nor in front of emergency exits, which must be immediately available for free public egress;

b) fire-fighting apparatus shall be kept in its proper place and only used for its intended purpose;

c) the Fire Brigade shall be called to any outbreak of fire and details of the occurrence shall be given to the Vicar or Churchwardens or Hall Booking Secretaries;

d) the hirer shall be the Responsible Person under the terms of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005;

e) highly flammable substances shall not be brought into, or used, in any part of the premises;

f) any performance involving danger to the public shall not be given;

g) no internal decorations shall be undertaken or erected without the consent of the Vicar or Churchwardens;

h) no unauthorised heating appliances shall be used on the premises;

i) The Vicar or Churchwardens shall be informed of any accident or injury occurring on the premises, so that it can be registered in the Accident Logbook;

j) All electrical equipment brought into the building shall comply with current regulations and must have been PAT tested, and display a current safety sticker on the plug.  The PCC disclaims all responsibility for all claims and costs arising out of any such equipment that belongs to the hirer and does not so comply with safety regulations.

 

5. Supervision

 

The hirer or person in charge of the activity ("the Representative") shall not be under 18 years of age and shall be on the premises for the entire period of hire, or duration of the activity. The Representative shall not be engaged in any duties that prevent him or her from exercising general supervision.

 

When the premises or part of them are used for the purpose of public entertainment, there shall be a minimum of two persons, neither of whom shall be less than 18 years of age, on duty.

 

All persons in charge or on duty shall have been informed of the procedure for evacuation of the premises, and shall be familiar with the fire-fighting equipment available.

 

6. Vulnerable Adults/Children and Child Protection

 

The parish of St Thomas the Apostle regards the safe care and protection of children and vulnerable adults as of the utmost importance.  Groups that hire or use church premises are expected to share this concern and ensure that any activities comply with current legislation.

 

Where relevant and upon request, the hirer must supply the Vicar or Churchwardens with a copy of their safeguarding and/or child protection policy, which must be in line with that of the parish of St Thomas the Apostle Finsbury Park.

 

7. Intoxicating Liquor, Smoking and Drugs

 

There is no Alcohol Licence held for any Church building.  Alcohol is not to be sold at any time, except when a Temporary Events Notice (TEN) has been issued.  Any breach of this will result in immediate termination of the contract, and the  forfeiture of any monies already held by St Thomas’ Church.

 

There is a strict No Smoking policy in all church buildings and within the church grounds (the curtilage). This includes the use of electronic ‘cigarettes’. Any breach of this will result in immediate termination of the contract, and the forfeiture of any monies already held by St Thomas’ Church.

 

The PCC has a zero-tolerance policy with regards to drugs and other illegal activity. The Police will be called if any hirer or user engaging in such illegal activity is discovered, and they will be immediately barred from the premises and refused the right to make further booking.

 

8. Betting, Gaming and Lotteries

 

Nothing shall be done on or in relation to the premises in contravention to the law relating to betting, gaming and lotteries. The persons responsible for functions held on church premises shall ensure that the requirements of the relevant legislation are strictly observed.

 

9. Storage

 

There is no facility for storage of equipment on the premises unless prior arrangement has been made with the Vicar or Churchwardens.

 

10. Loss of Property

 

The PCC does not accept responsibility for damage to, or the loss or theft of, users' property or effects.

 

11. Neighbours, Nuisance and Call-Outs

 

Because the premises are in a residential area, the noise must not be such as to cause annoyance or inconvenience to any person.

 

a) Litter shall not be left in or about the premises.

 

b) No dogs are allowed on the premises except in the case of registered assistance dogs.

 

c) All evening events will finish by 10.30 pm and all users must leave by 11.00 pm, when the premises must be locked. Please be quiet on leaving the building.  Failure to do so will result in the deposit being forfeited by occasional hirers and, if it is appropriate for regular users to continue hiring the hall, a charge of £30 being added to the next invoice.  If users refuse to leave the premises or cause significant nuisance, or create difficulties for any representative of the Church, the Police will be called.

 

d) All rubbish must be bagged, placed in dustbins or removed. We encourage users to dispose of food waste in the brown bins in the kitchen and any mixed recycling in the large black container just inside the gate.

 

e) Should we receive a complaint from local residents, the police or the local authority whilst a hire is taking place, and a member of the church is called out to attend, the deposit will be forfeited by occasional users and, if it is considered appropriate for regular users to continue hiring the hall, a charge of £30 will be added to the next invoice and an explanation will be required from the hirer.

 

12. Cleaning

 

All users shall also leave the premises and surrounds in a clean and tidy condition. The grounds should be checked for and cleared of litter and food waste.

 

13. Conditions of Hire.

 

A) Bookings for Individual Occasions

 

  1. Hall charges and deposits must be paid in advance.

  2. The hirer shall not use any part of the facilities not let and paid for.

  3. Hours booked shall include setting up and tidying up time.

  4. The hirer shall, during the period of the hiring, be responsible for supervision of the premises, protection of the fabric and contents, safety from damage (however slight), and the behaviour of all persons using the premises whatever their capacity.

  5. Events or meetings cannot be advertised on church premises without the permission of the Vicar and Churchwardens. Posters and banners may not be put on any noticeboards, walls or windows.

  6. The Vicar and Churchwardens shall have access to all parts of the Church buildings at all times.

  7. The hirer shall be responsible for obtaining any licences necessary in connection with the booking.

  8. The hirer shall be responsible for making arrangements to insure against any third party claims which may lie against his or her organisation whilst using Church facilities. The Church is insured against any claims arising out of its own negligence, and the Hirer shall do nothing to invalidate or jeopardise such insurance.

  9. The hirer shall not sub-let the premises.

  10. The hirer shall indemnify the Vicar, the Church Wardens and the PCC for the cost of repair of any damage done to any part of the property including the curtilage thereof or the contents of the building during, or as a result of, a booking, and against all expense, liability, costs and claims that may arise against any person as a result of the hiring.

  11. The hirer acknowledges that no tenancy is intended to be created between the PCC and the hirer and no relationship of landlord and tenant exist between them.

 

 

B) Regular Bookings

 

  1. Regular bookings must be paid in advance before the start of each series of bookings. Any keys must be signed for by the Representative of the Hirer. No further copies of keys are to be made by the Hirer under any circumstances.

  2. The hirer shall pay the fees within 28 days of the date of invoice. Fees shall only be refundable in the event of the Church cancelling the booking as above.  In the event of non-payment, persistent late payment or breach of these terms and conditions the Vicar, Churchwardens and Parochial Church Council may terminate the booking immediately.

  3. Rental charges may be increased by the Vicar, Churchwardens and Parochial Church Council at any time, giving 28 days written notice. All rental charges will be reviewed by the Vicar, Churchwardens and PCC each year.

  4. Bookings may be terminated at 14 days notice by either party.

  5. The Representative hereby accepts personal responsibility for the compliance by the hirer with all the conditions and rules governing the use of the facilities, and indemnifies the PCC accordingly.

  6. The hirer shall not use any part of the facilities not let and paid for.

  7. Hours booked shall include setting up and tidying up time.

  8. In the event that the hirer does not require use of the premises, 14 days notice must be given to the Hall Booking Secretaries, or rent already paid may be forfeited.

  9. The hirer shall, during the period of the hiring, be responsible for supervision of the premises, protection of the fabric and contents, safety from damage (however slight), and the behaviour of all persons using the premises whatever their capacity.

  10. The Vicar and Churchwardens shall have access to all parts of the Church buildings at all times.

  11. The hirer shall be responsible for obtaining any licences necessary in connection with the booking.

  12. The hirer shall be responsible for making arrangements to insure against any third party claims which may lie against his or her organisation whilst using the Church facilities. The Church is insured against any claims arising out of its own negligence, and the hirer shall do nothing to invalidate or jeopardise such insurance.

  13. The hirer shall not sub-let the premises.

  14. The hirer shall indemnify the Vicar, the Church Wardens and the PCC for the cost of repair of any damage done to any part of the property including the curtilage thereof or the contents of the building during, or as a result of, a booking, and against all expense, liability, costs and claims that may arise against any person as a result of the hiring.

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