Regulations
All community halls will need to ensure that they have up to date information about the regulations that affect them. Help can be obtained from your village hall adviser (find adviser) and from the relevant authorities.
ACRE works with Government departments to ensure that they are aware of the impact of changes to legislation on halls. This is achieved through membership of a number of advisory groups and by responding to consultations on behalf of the Rural Community Action Network.
Current consultations:
Safe. Sensible. Social. Selling alcohol responsibly
Please let your village hall adviser know your opinions on a proposed new code of practice for alcohol retailers. The Home Office want to ensure those who sell and supply alcohol do so responsibly, in order to prevent alcohol-related crime, disorder and nuisance.
The new code will contain both mandatory and optional local licensing rules and requirements. These could impact on the sale of alcohol in your hall. The Consulation closes on 5th August 2009
ACRE will be submitting a response on behalf of the Rural Community Action Network.
View consultation document here
Response to Safe. Sensible. Social Consultation
The Village Halls and Minor Variations Orders will come into force on Wednesday 29th July 2009
The Legislative Reform (Supervision of Alcohol Sales in Church and Village Halls) Order 2009 view here This order received parliamentary approval in March 2009.
This Order follows detailed lobbying, campaigning and consultation with the Department for Culture Media and Sport during the last six years. ACRE has produced a briefing which outlines how it is intended that the Order will work for hall committees who want to sell alcohol at fundraising, social and other activities that take place in rural halls.
view briefing here
You may find the discussion in the House of Lords on 18 March 2009 of interest.
The Legislative Reform (Minor Variations to Premises Licences and Club Premises Certificates) Order 2009
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2009/draft/ukdsi_9780111477496_en_1
This Order introduces a simplified process for minor variations to Premises Licences and Club Premises Certificates.
Background information on both Legislative Reform Orders
Consultation document 28 November 2007
ACRE’s response
Consultation document 04 August 2008
ACRE’s response
Culture Media and Sport Select Committee Report on the Licensing Act 2003
This Report is the response to the Select Committee Inquiry that took place between July and September 2008. It recommends amongst a number of other measures an increase in the limit of Temporary Event Notices (TEN) together with a reduction in cost of applying for a TEN in order to lesson the burden on voluntary, community and not for profit groups.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmcumeds/492/492.pdf
view
ACRE's response
Consultation on changes to exemptions from public performance rights in sound recordings and performers’ rights
This consultation has been released by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) with responses due by 31 October 2008. ACRE has produced a briefing to highlight the areas of concern and raise discussion points.
consultation document
ACRE's response
The IPO are currently working with the voluntary and community sector, Performing Right Society (PRS) and the PPL to try and develop a charging structure satisfactory to all.
The Performing Right Society have recently consulted on their Code of Conduct. The Code was fairly straightforward but ACRE submitted a short response to highlight some issues that have been identified via the RCAN network.
Code of conduct
view ACRE’s response
Land Registry - Comprehensive land register – this looks at compulsory registration of land. Deadline: 29 February 2008 view
ACRE's response
In place for 6 April 2009.
http://www.landregistry.gov.uk – look under Important Developments, First registration advice for trustees
Office of the Third Sector/Cabinet Office - Review of the Thresholds - looks at proposals to raise the threshold for independent examination to £25,000 or £50,000 from the current £10,000. Deadline: 31 March 2008 view
ACRE's response
New thresholds are now in place - view
Further sources of information:
Charity Status
The Charity Commission is the government organisation responsible for regulating and registering charities in England and Wales. The Commission assists charities to use their resources more effectively by providing the best possible regulations and advice. You should contact the Commission direct for support and advice that you need. Telephone 0845 300 0218 or visit the website
Fire Regulations - The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005
New fire safety rules affecting all non-domestic premises in England and Wales came into force on 1 October 2006. All community buildings management committees will need to carry out a fire risk assessment of their premises, identifying any possible dangers and risks.
A set of guidance notes, available here have been developed to tell you what you have to do to comply with the fire safety law, help you to carry out a fire risk assessment and identify the general fire precautions you need to have in place.
The guides are designed so that a responsible person, with limited formal training or experience, should be able to carry out a fire risk assessment. If you read the guide and decide you are unable to apply the guidance then you should seek expert advice from your Fire and Rescue Service.
Licensing Regulations
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is the lead Government Department on all licensing policies. The new licensing laws under the Licensing Act 2003 came into effect on 24 November 2005. There are implications for community buildings and village halls that have public entertainment or sell alcohol on the premises. Village halls and premises like them are exempt from fees for public entertainment but fees are still charged for licensing for alcohol sale.
For more detailed information visit the DCMS website or contact your local authority.
Health and Safety
Every public building, including community buildings and village halls, has to comply to health and safety regulations. These regulations cover a wide range of topics, activities and projects for the protection of people using the hall, and managers who run them. It is the responsibility of the committee to ensure that health and safety regulations are being complied with.
The Health and Safety Commission and the Health and Safety Executive are responsible for almost all the risks related to health and safety. Information, access to expert advice and guidance is available from the HSE Infoline on 0845 345 0055 or you can visit the HSE website.
Disability Discrimination Act
Village halls are central to community life, therefore it is important that the services they provide are inclusive of all within the community.
Since October 2004 service providers are required to make reasonable adjustments to the physical features of their premises to overcome physical barriers to access. The legislation has implications for all public buildings - community buildings and village halls included - without disability access or similar provisions.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the government body set up to protect the rights of disabled people. The Commission's helpline provides advice and information on the Disability Discrimination Act. Call the helpline on 08457 622 633. Further information is available on the EHRC website.
Tax Regulations
Community buildings and village halls with charity status could benefit from tax exemptions or from certain tax schemes, such as Gift Aid and VAT. These could help reduce costs or generate some much needed funds. Managers are advised to check with Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) department to find if and how they can benefit.
The HMRC website has detailed information. If you have any further queries or want to ask for advice you can call the Charities helpline on 0845 302 0203. |
