Village Hall
- The Village Hall, founded in 1929, hosts many village activities, including Pre-school, Short Mat Bowls Club, Parish Council Meetings, Youth Club, Historical Society, New Thursday Group, plus various special events. It is available for hire.
| Hall Hire |
Hire charges from 1st February 2013
Regular User Club Rate - Weekday - Hourly RateMain Hall £6.00
Committee Room Only £3.00
Evening Event Hire (after 6pm)
Weekday £75.00
Saturday £80.00
Casual/Event Full Day Hire - Saturday £150.00
Part-Day Casual Hire - Hourly Rate - Saturday £7.00
Bookings Clerk
Tony Pilcher - 2, The Knoll, Sherington MK16 9NZ
Email: Sherington_vh@btinternet.com
(please note; there is an underscore between sherington and vh and not a space)
For general information regarding facilities at our village hall the booking Clerk is Tony Pilcher 07860 370558.
For booking the hall please see below. Do not phone as the number given is a mobile and the booking diary is unlikely to be available there and then. Thus a preferred booking date cannot agreed.
Our village hall is in use most days school term time and can also be busy on Saturdays. To ensure we manage bookings fairly and efficiently, we ask that all "casual and event" booking requests are in writing (e-mail preferred). Our booking clerk will reply to each request in arrival order (where there is more than one) and hold a date that is available for hire for 24 hours only, pending a hirers reply confirming they wish to go ahead with a booking.
The hall will be considered "booked", only when a deposit /hire fee requested by written invoice has been received into our account.
Regular Bookings Timetable - February 2013
This table summarises the main regular bookings. Further details of availability, including times, can be found by downloading the Hall Timetable. (Word 2007 document)
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
| Monday | Pre-school | Bowls | 'Fitter Life' Exercise Class |
| Tuesday | Pre-school | Available | Wk 1 Parish Council Wk 2 Historical Society Wk 3/4 Available Lace Group in small room |
| Wednesday | Pre-school | Ballet with Melanie | Youth Club |
| Thursday | Pre-school | Ballet with Melanie | Wk 1/3 Ladies Group (small room available) Wk 2 Folk Music Workshop Wk 4 Horological Society |
| Friday | Mums & Toddlers | Pre-school | Bowls (most weeks) |
| Saturday | Sheringtone Keep Fit (most weeks) | Available | Available |
| Sunday | Deep Cleaning | Maintenance | Main hall - No hire Small room p.m. |
Regular hirer bookings are fixed 3 months in advance
Pre-school, Mums & Toddlers sessions are booked for Term time only
Contact our booking clerk for casual hire and bookings in non-term time. A casual hirer may also negotiate directly with a regular user to accommodate a change. N.B. Fixed statutory obligations (polling day etc) will take precedence over regular hire.
Event Hire: A bond of £100 in addition to our hire charge is always taken in advance of a public or Saturday 'event' and may be encashed where damage or poor cleaning is evidenced following the hire.
Regular Hire: Where our Caretaker or Booking Clerk observe that our hall is not left clean and tidy, or has not been used in accordance with our "conditions of hire", or where written complaints are regularly received, future sessions may be terminated.
Dimensions
The light and airy Main Hall is 15M long by 9.2M wide overall, with additional kitchen, bar, toilet and storage areas.
There is a moveable stage at one end (usually to the right of the main door).
Centre height of the hall is 3.5M, over an area of 15M by 6M, this height reduces to 2.2M over an area of 15M x 3.2M toward the back wall of the hall.
Layout
To the left of the main entrance and to the front is a Committee room, which doubles as a beverage servery with a bar style opening into the main hall.
Also to the left of the main door and to the rear of the hall is a Kitchen with a Bar style servery opening to the main hall.
Facilities included in the hire and nearby
- Shared on-site car-park and adjacent children's play park.
- All heating & light.
- Separate Kitchen / servery with "burco" electric boiler for hot drinks preparation. Continuous hot water for washing up to a S.S sink. 4 ring domestic gas cooker, single oven & eye level grill. No cutlery or crockery provided.
- Committee room / Bar area (if hired).
- Toilets.
- 10 long trestle tables
- 2 long folding tables
- 13 small folding tables
- 10 folding card tables
- 12 committee room upholstered chairs
- 140 moulded frame stacking chairs
- Capacity:- The hall seats 80 at table, with a capacity for 125 people.
Conditions of Hire
1.1 FEES AND CHARGES
1.1 A deposit of 25% of the hire charge must be paid within seven days of the acceptance of the booking.
1.2 Fees and hire charges must be paid in full within seven days prior to the date of the event.
1.3 A charge of £50.00, in cash, (used as a bond) to be added to the final payment. This is returnable providing that all terms and conditions of hire have been adhered to.
1.4 If the hirer shall cancel any hiring of the Hall, the Committee shall, at their discretion, be entitled to retain the fee paid.
1.5 The full cost of hire (outside the premises) of tables, trestles, crockery, etc shall be payable on or before collection. In addition, a returnable deposit of double the hire fee (in cash) must be paid. The hirer will be responsible for the return, in good condition, of any items returned.
1.6 Keys are issued at the booking clerk's discretion. Failure to return them by the same evening may result in the retention of the £50.00 bond.
2. HOURS
2.1 All functions are to finish by 11.00pm on the day of hire between Sunday and Thursday (inclusive).
2.2 All functions are to be finished by 11.45pm on the day of hire between Friday and Saturday (inclusive).
2.3 The hiring does not entitle the hirer to use or enter the Hall at any time other than the specific hours for which they were hired, unless prior arrangements have been made. If the premises are not vacated by the hour mentioned in the application, the hirer shall pay in addition to the ordinary charge for the hire, the prescribed sum for each hour or part thereof beyond that time, but this condition shall not be deemed to authorise any use of the premises or any part thereof beyond the hour so mentioned.
2.4 All property of the hirer, or their agents,shall be removed by 8.30am on the day following the hiring unless an arrangement has been agreed with the booking clerk.
2.5 The hall is not available for hire on Good Friday or Christmas Day, and generally not on a Sunday.
3. ALCOHOL
3.1 No excisable liquor shall be sold unless a Temporary Event licence for the Hall shall be in force at such time and the hirer shall be responsible for obtaining such a licence as required and shall produce such licence if requested.
3.2 No alcohol is allowed on the premises for under-age parties/discos, etc.
4. RESPONSIBILITIES
4.1 The Hall is not available for hire for private parties for individuals between 18 and 22 years of age.
4.2 The hirer has to be over the age of 25.
4.3 The hirer shall take good care of the Hall and any fitting, equipment or other property therein and shall defray the cost of making good any damage which the hiring or circumstances arising in connection with the hiring may cause to the building or any part thereof.
4.4 The Hall shall be left in a clean and orderly state.
4.5 The hirer shall take all proper precautions for the prevention of accidents to any personnel, the avoidance of unnecessary noise, the prevention of any disorderly conduct or gambling and shall indemnify the committee, its officers and servants from all actions, claims and demands arising out of the hiring, or in any way connected therewith.
4.6 The hirer shall be responsible for the effective control of children, the activity and the admission and departure of persons to and from the Hall and the safe clearance of the Hall in the event of any emeregency, with special consideration given to the elderly and those confined to wheelchairs.
4.7 The use of lighted candles is not permitted on the premises.
4.8 The hirer is responsible to ensure that all exits, including the fire exits, are kept maintained and unobstructed at all times when the public are on the premises.
4.9 The hirer is responsible to ensure that a person with a knowledge of basic first aid skills is available on the premises when open to members of the public.
4.10 Smoking is not permitted in any part of the Village Hall building.
5. GENERAL
5.1 In no circumstances will the committee make good or accept responsibility for any property of the hirer, or any other person, left deposited or brought to the premises, left or deposited with any officer or servant of the committee, and the hirer shall indemnify and hold the committee harmless in respect thereof.
5.2 The committee reserves the right to refuse or summarily to cancel without compensation to the hirer any engagements it considers detrimental to the Hall or which is considered objectionable or which would prevent the use of the Hall for some other purpose which the committee considers sufficiently important or urgent.
5.3 The committee will not be responsible for any loss due to breakdown of machinery, failure to the supply of gas, electricity, leakage of water, fire, Government restriction, or Act of God, which may cause the premises to be temporarily closed, or the hiring to be interrupted or cancelled.
5.4 Nothing shall be hung or lodged against or suspended from the internal walls and nothing shall be nailed or stapled to the walls or floors and no external decoration, flags, emblems or notices will be permitted without the sanction of the letting secretary. No alterations, additions or expension to lighting arrangement shall be made without the prior permission of the committee.
5.5 All statutes, statutory regulations and byelaws in relation to the Betting and Gaming, Music and Dancing, Theatres, Cinematography Exhibitions Act must be observed and the committee shall be indemnified against any infringement of the said regulations and byelaws. Where any licence is required by the hirer for any purpose, the hirer shall make all arrangements and pay all costs in connection therewith.
5.6 Hirers are advised that the Hall is not registered with Milton Keynes Council under the Food Hygiene Regulations and Food Safety Act. Any infringement of the said regulations in the preparation of food is entirely the responsibility of the hirer.
5.7 The right of entry to the Hall is reserved to any member of the committee or official or servant of the committee or police officer on duty and to any other person authorised by the Chairman of the Committee.
Hirer's Responsibilities
The Hirer shall ensure that:
a. no sticky material is used on any ceiling or wall,
b. the kitchen extractor fan is operated to remove humidity / steam during preparation of hot beverages / using the hot water boiler or cooker,
c. adjacent householders are not disturbed or inconvenienced,
d. child safety covers on eleectrical socket outlets are replaced after use.
all damage noted at the start of hire is immediately notified to the Booking Clerk.
The Hirer shall ensure on vacating the hall that:
1. Kitchen:
a. gas cooker & the electric hot water boiler are fully turned off,
b. worktops are clean and tidy,
c. unused food and drink are removed.
2. Main Hall:
a. Hirer's decorations are removed,
b. tables and chairs are clean and stacked away in the Chair Store (chairs must not be stacked more than twelve high)
c. heating thermostat is turned down to 10 degrees C.
3. Committee Room:
a. tables and chairs are returned to their correct locations,
b. the serving hatch is fully closed and secure.
4. Toilets:
a. toilets have been flushed and left in a clean state,
b. remove nappies from the hall and not flush down the toilet.
5. All areas:
a. floors have been swept and all spillages removed,
b. all lights, excluding emergency lights, are switched off,
c. all windows are closed and securely latched,
d. the Hirer's belongings and those of any contractor employed by the Hirer are removed, except by prior agreement with Booking Clerk,
e. all doors are shut and locked on exit from the hall,
f. vehicles of the Hirer, Hirer's contractors / guests are removed.
6. Keys are returned through the Bookong Clerk's letterbox.
Failure to comply with the above may result in retention of all or part of the Hirer's bond
Premises Licence:
The Premises Licence issued by Milton Keynes Council covers the following activities between 9am and midnight:
- Live Music - Indoors;
- Recorded Music - Indoors;
- Performances of Dance - Indoors;
- Activity similar to live music, recorded music or performance of dance - Indoors;
- Provisions of facilities for making music - Indoors;
- Provision of facilities for dancing - Indoors;
- Provision of entertainment facilities similar to music/dance - Indoors
The maximum capacity is 100 (tables and chairs) or 150 (chairs only).
Please note:
- The information above is as published on the noticeboard at the Village Hall in October 2012. It is recommended that you check in case there have been any subsequent changes.
- All enquiries should be addressed to a member of the Village Hall Management Committee.
| Village Hall Management Committee |
- The day-to-day running of the Village Hall is the responsibility of the Management Committee. Since 2001, this has had nine members: five appointed by the trustees and four elected annually at the AGM. However, no elections have yet been held as no candidates have stepped forward.
- In 2009, the Chairman is Jason Giller. Helen Vale (Tel: 216543) is Secretary. The other members have not been publicised.
- The Committee meets formally four times a year to review and discuss any issues with respect to the finances, bookings and maintenance.
2012 AGM
- The 2012 Village Hall Management Committee AGM will be held on
14 June 2012 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.
All are welcome to attend. - More committee members are required - Nominations should be made by 7 June 2012 to Helen Vale (tel: 216543), from whom further details are available.
2011 AGM
- The 2011 AGM will be held on 30 June 2011 at 7.30pm in the Village Hall. All are welcome to attend.
- Anyone wishing to stand for election to the Committee should contact Helen Vale (tel: 216543).
Caretaker
Kay Turrell
| Registered Charity |
- The Village Hall is a registered charity (number 300322). Details of the Trustees and the Annual Returns are published on the Charity Commision's website.
- There are 7 Trustees: John Burgess (Tel: 611163), Mike Inskipp (Tel: 216214), Wendy Haynes (Tel: 610981), Jason Giller, His Honour Judge Antony Hughes, Sarah Jackson and John Cook(Tel:610909).
- Financial reports:
| Financial Year | Income | Expenditure |
| 1 April 2006 - 31 March 2007 | £9,326 | £7,992 |
| 1 April 2007 - 31 March 2008 | £10,050 | £10,391 |
| 1 April 2008 - 31 March 2009 | £9,963 | £10,314 |
| 1 April 2009 - 31 March 2010 | £8,715 | £9,584 |
| 1 April 2010 - 31 March 2011 | £9,313 | £12,118 |
| 1 April 2011 - 31 March 2012 | £8,452 | £9,168 |
Hall plan - sketch
