Although the current guidelines allow village halls to reopen, the risks and requirement to mitigate against the Covid-19 threat continues to be extremely complex, demanding, difficult to administer and places significant additional responsibilities on the Village Hall Trustees and Committee members. Having examined the government and local council Covid-19 Risk Assessments, which detail the requirements for both Committee and Hall hirer prior to any activity in the village hall, it was very clear that there would be considerable risk in allowing activities to take place whilst the incidence of Covid-19 is still relatively high. 

 

After consulting regular hall hirers, it was clear that the majority had no plans to make use of the hall until at least early in the New Year, it would seem a reasonable decision to remain closed until these priority hirers were ready to resume operations. As the majority of priority hirers have little appetite for commencing the reopening process it would be perverse for the Committee to facilitate casual use at this time. 

 

The Committee therefore approved a recommendation that the committee should keep the village hall closed to all users for the remainder of 2020, however, this position should be reviewed in mid-October, or at any time the government guidelines are changed significantly to allow a re-opening with less complex and arduous requirements. 

 

Re-scheduled events 

At the committee meeting on 25 August it was agreed that the following private hires/events which were postponed due to the pandemic will be rescheduled as soon as possible once the pandemic is over or the committee believes it is safe to stage them. 

• Challenge Quiz & Curry Night 

• Race Night 

• Attic Auction 

 

It was noted that a second Bags2School fundraising event will be held in the hall grounds on Monday 21 September and all funds raised will be shared equally by the Village Hall and Topcliffe Scouts.