The
North Millers Dale Community Association has been getting reports from local
residents who have been having difficulty with the use of the hall. Comments
have varied from the making of bookings, to the space left useable within
the hall. These issues are in part due to a change in the management of the
hall. Your Community hall was previously leased by the Eastleigh Baptist Church
and is now leased by Jane Dyke the owner of the Yellow Dot Nursery. This is
significant because the hall is the community’s greatest asset.
The question to ask is how is the hall to be managed in terms of who has access and what are the costs of that access? The rules surrounding this are in a Constitution for the Millers Dale Centre Lettings Committee under an Eastleigh Borough Council reference 16805/9cl. The fact that Yellow Dot Nursery and not the Baptist Church now hold the lease does not change the situation.
The main points in the constitution are:
·
There is to be a Lettings Committee to control the use of the hall and to
establish a scheme of representation.
· The Committee will allow the Community 50% of normal letting hours
and that usage can include dancing, gaming and drinking of alcohol.
· The Committee must include 2 members of the residents association
and a serving member of the Eastleigh Borough Council. The lessee can have
3 members
The committee will
· Seek to establish a balance in letting approvals between the lessee
and the needs of the Community.
· Ensure there is insurance to fabric, contents and persons hiring
the centre.
· Facilitate prompt consideration of the letting applications
· Meet a minimum of 3 times a year.
Following
a meeting with Jane Dyke, Doreen Lewry, Councillor Davidovitz, acting as chairman,
and myself it was agreed:
· No individual can deny access for use of the hall to a resident of
the community. Only the Lettings Committee can do that.
· We are to review the charges made but currently the charge is £5.50
per hour. We have been informed that Jane is proposing an increaase to £6
for occasional users.
· The hall should be cleaned up and swept after use, particularly if
there is any spill or mess. There is a vacuum cleaner in the gents toilet
cupboard.
· Jane Dyke wants the running of the hall to remain on a friendly basis
with no major changes to the way it was done before
Applications
to hire the hall can be made either
. by E-mail to jane@yellowdotnursery.co.uk
and cc to editor@nmdca.org.uk or
. by letter through the door of the hall addressed to Yellow Dot Nursery or
. by phone call to 023 80274775 between 0900 and 1000 weekdays.
The key can be picked up from the Nursery or Doreen Lewry.
Yellow Dot has started to charge applicants a returnable deposit of £50 against damage.
This is your hall. Please use it. The constitution and Lettings Committee are there to help everyone, both residents and Yellow Dot Nursery.