Cut-price rate for hall hire

Discounts on the cost of hiring rooms in Newark Town Hall are to be given to local community groups and people holding celebratory parties.

The town council’s finance and policy committee agreed to the discount as part of revised charges for all events held on or after April 1, 2008.

In a report the deputy town clerk, Mrs Christine Slim, said weddings and parties were charged at the same rate but fewer staff were required for parties.

Councillors agreed to a 20% discount on room hire charges for parties and that a 10% discount currently given to charities should be extended to local public groups.

Mrs Slim’s report said the reduced charge for parties was likely to be offset by bar profits that were usually considerably higher when a sit-down meal was not part of the event.

She said community groups in the Newark area often approached the council for a meeting room but could not afford the current charge.

Mrs Slim said big events like weddings were often booked a long time in advance and the council honoured the charges given at the time of the booking.

She said they may have increased significantly by the time of the event.

Councillors agreed to an increase of about 3% a year for the financial years 2009-10 and 2010-11.

The Town Hall was used for a total of 952 hours between April 1 and October 31, 2007 for council meetings, mayoral and civic events, business, private and other events.

Mrs Slim said income could be increased by having more daytime events when overheads were much lower and ensuring that labour-intensive events such as weddings were appropriately charged.

Her report said the number of bookings for parties had fallen and the hire charge was the main reason for that.

The cost of hiring the ballroom for weddings during the day from Mondays to Saturdays will increase from £65 an hour to £70 an hour, including VAT, from April 1 next year. The cost in the evenings will increase from £95 to £100 an hour.

The cost of hiring the Council Chamber will go up to £54 an hour during the day and £80 an hour in the evenings.

The cost of hiring the Pickin Room and Committee Room will increase to £28 an hour in the day and £54 an hour in the evenings. The kitchen will cost £24 an hour during the day or evening.

A 20% discount on these prices will be given to parties.

Business bookings will be charged at £54 an hour for the ballroom, £38 an hour for the Council Chamber, £28 an hour for the Pickin or Committee rooms and £24 an hour for the kitchen.

Double rates apply on Sundays and bank holidays.