It has been a difficult 18 months and we need to accept that although the Governments ‘Roadmap out of Lockdown’ is planned to conclude on June the 21st however, the virus will still be with us.
The situation has seen many changes and is likely to see many long-term variances in our lifestyles, online shopping has increased exponentially as has home food delivery and working from home. The Parish Council must also adapt to the changes.
It is hoped to reopen the Parish Hall at STEP 3 of the Roadmap out of Lockdown (17th May) with whatever restrictions are in place. Presently, they are follows:
Parish Hall Opening from 17th May 2021 – COVID – 19 Lockdown Roadmap
Social Contact Indoors: Up to 6 people or a larger group from 2 households
The above operating protocol will be in place up to 21st June 2021 when the potential advice will be ‘Social Contact Indoors: No legal limit’.
Booking changes as per HPC minute 20FC085
The Parish Hall is a wonderful, yet costly amenity for Harlington. When open, hirers will fall into one of two categories, they will either be ‘Regular Hirers’ or ‘Non- Regular Hirers’ (occasional hirers)
A ‘Regular Hirer’ will be an individual or group who hire and pay for a minimum of one session per week. There will be no change to the bookings of regular bookings.
An ‘Occasional Hirer’ is anyone who is not a ‘Regular Hirer’, Occasional bookings will be subject to a minimum charge of £25. There are several reasons for a minimum charge. For example, the staff cost to book a room, issue a key, invoice the hirer, check payment made, process via the accounts package etc involved in a one off short hire, makes it an expense rather than an income.
The Parish Council has a duty to ensure it is as cost efficient as possible to manage the amount collected from the rate payers of Harlington.