Please click on the tabs below to find out more about our facilities and hiring our hall.

Finding Us:

We are situated in the centre of our village at the bottom of Stoke Hill

Our post code is BA3 5JJ

Hall Size

Our main hall measures 40ft x 20ft, has a large drop screen available at one end with surround speakers.  Off of this space we have a well-equipped kitchen and separate bar.  Please see photo’s

Outside we have a layered seating area which can accommodate 20-30 people.  We do have a marquee, which measures 20ft x 10ft, available at an additional cost which sits over the lower level.  Outdoor tables and chairs are often used at our community events to add extra seating.

Our space allows for the following number of people:

  1. 175 when used for dancing.
  2. 97 when seating is provided inside, there is additional space for 28 people outside.
  3. 117 when used for dancing and seating is also provided at tables, additional space for 30-40 outside.
  4. 200 when used for a closely seated audience
Parking

Parking

Our village Hall does have limited parking. There is road side space opposite the front door and off road parking at the back that can accommodate 5-7 cars. The pub next door also allows us to use their car park if spaces are available. Which there often are during the day and weekday evenings. More car parking is available on street parking around the Village square.

Disabled Parking

Parking for the Disabled is available next to the Back Door of the Hall which is adjacent to the Disabled entrance. There is a ramp from the car park with a large gate access into the back of the hall facilities.

Can the Hall provide Parking for larger Vehicles?

Please enquire at the time of booking if this is required as there is adequate access for a large vehicle drop off by the hall and facilities to park vehicle until required again can be organised.

Kitchen

We have a good stock of china plates, cups, bowls plus cutlery for general use by the hirer.  Please let us know about any breakages or damage to our stock should they occur during your hire.

The hirer can use any or all of the equipment we have provided they are familiar with its use.

All items used should be washed & cleaned.  Please bring your own tea towels to dry items and ensure the kitchen is left as found, items put away in the cupboards originally taken from.

Any additional electrical equipment bought in by the hirer must be removed or unplugged when hirer is not on the premises.

Tables & Chairs

We have a selection of wipe down durable plastic tables

  •  10 small folding tables 2.5ft x 2.5ft
  • 12 medium size tables 4ft x 4ft
  • 12 large tables 6ft x 2ft

and a selection of chairs for your hire which are available in our hall.

  • 10 armed chairs, supportive for senior people
  • 30 padded blue chairs
  • 120 plastic red chairs

A small number of items are stored in our Ante room and easily accessible for your function.  However if you require a large number of items please get in touch.

All we ask is that you restack any furniture used back in our ante room at the end of your hire so that the next person using our facilities will find them as you did.

Dissabled facilities

A tarmacked sloped ramp provides easy access from the rear car park into the back of the halls facilities, from here entry into the hall is via a wide fire exit door which has been ramped for wheelchair ease.

We have an adjustable hydraulic changing unit in our modernised accessible changing room. Additional equipment is also on hand if needed

SCHEME

Sealed Charity Commissions Scheme

Sealed 20th June 1990 T 74(5)  90

County – Somerset

Parish – Stoke St. Michael

Charity – Stoke St. Michael War Memorial Hall

Adjudged not chargeable   Scheme including appointment of with stamp duty                                       Trustees

CHARITY COMMISSION

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In the matter of the Charity known as Stoke St. Michael War Memorial Hall, in the Parish of Stoke St. Michael, in the County of Somerset, founded by a deed dated the 16th July 1921; and in the matter of the Charities Act 1960.

THE CHARITY COMMISSIONERS FOR ENGLAND AND WALES HEREBY ORDER that the following Scheme be approved and established as the Scheme for the regulation of the above-mentioned Charity:-

S C H E M E

  1. Administration of Charity. The above-mentioned Charity and the property thereof specified in the schedule hereto and all other the property (if any) of the Charity shall be administered and managed in conformity with the provisions of this Scheme by the Committee of Management hereinafter constituted as the charity trustees thereof within the meaning of section 46 of the Charities Act 1960:

Provided that until the end of the first annual general meeting to be held as hereinafter provided after the date of this Scheme the Charity shall be administered by the existing Trustees of the Charity in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme.   What does this mean about who owns the hall

TRUSTEES

  1. Trustees and vesting.

(1) Stoke St. Michael Parish be the Custodian Trustee of the Charity.

(2) The land with the building thereon specified in the is hereby vested in the said council for all the estate therein belonging to or held in trust for the Charity.

(3) Until the end of the first annual general meeting to be held as hereinafter provided the existing Trustees of the Charity at the date of this Scheme shall be the Managing Trustees of the Charity as the charity trustees thereof within the meaning of section 46 of the Charities Act 1960, but from and after the end of that meeting the Committee of Management hereinafter constituted shall be the Managing Trustees of the Charity as the charity trustees thereof as aforesaid.  Is this about who has controlling power

OBJECT

  1. Object of Charity.

(1) The object of the Charity shalt be the provision and maintenance of a village hall for the use of the inhabitants of the Parish of Stoke St. Michael (hereinafter called “the area of benefit”) without distinction of political, religious or other opinions, including use for meetings, lectures and classes, and for other forms of recreation and leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said inhabitants.

(2) The said land and building shall be held upon trust for the purposes of a village hall as aforesaid.

COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT

  1. Constitution. Subject as hereinafter provided, the Committee of Management (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) shall consist when complete of eighteen persons (hereinafter referred to as Members) being

Six Elected Members and Twelve Representative Members.

  1. Elected Members. Subject as hereinafter provided for casual vacancies, the Elected Members shall be appointed at the annual general meeting to be held as hereinafter provided and shall hold office from the end of the annual general meeting at which they are appointed. We take this to be the officers: Tres, Sec, Chair ?
  2. Representative Members. (1) One Representative Member shall be appointed by each of the following organisations: What happens if one of these groups still exist but work independently

Stoke St. Michael Parish Council,

Stoke St. Michael Community Field,

Stoke St. Michael Baby & Toddler Group,

Stoke St. Michael Women’s Institute,

Stoke St. Michael British Legion,

(2) Each organisation shall notify the name of the person appointed by it to the secretary of the Committee.

(3) The appointment of a Representative Member may be made not more than one month before the annual general meeting and the term of office of a Representative Member so appointed shall commence at the end of that meeting.

(4) If an organisation entitled to appoint a Representative Member fails to do so within the said period of one month before the annual general meeting the appointment shall be made as soon as practicable after that meeting. The term of office of a Representative Member so appointed and of a Representative Member appointed to fill a casual vacancy shall commence on the day on which notification is received by the said secretary.

  1. Co-opted Members. The Committee may appoint if they think fit not more than four Co-opted Members. Each appointment of a Co-opted Member shall be made at a meeting of the Committee to take effect from the date of that meeting.
  2. Termination of membership.

(1) Any member who is adjudged bankrupt or makes a composition or arrangement with his or her creditors or who is incapacitated from acting or who communicates in writing to the Committee a wish to resign shall thereupon cease to take effect from the date of that meeting.

(2) All the Members shall retire from office together at the end of the annual general meeting next after the date on which they came into office but they may be re-elected or re-appointed.

  1. Additional Representative Members. The Committee shall have power by a resolution passed at a duly constituted meeting by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the Members for the time being to allow the appointment of an additional Representative Member by any organisation in the area of benefit not already named in this Scheme.
  2. Alteration to constituton of Committee. The constitution of the Committee as hereinbefore provided may on the application of the Committee be altered from time to time by Order of the Charity Commissioners.
  3. Casual vacancies.

(I) Upon the occurrence of a casual vacancy the Committee shall cause a note thereof to be entered in their minute book at their next meeting and in the case of a vacancy in the office of Representative Member shall cause notice thereof to be given as soon as possible to the organisation entitled to fill the vacancy.

(2) A casual vacancy in the office of Elected Member may be filled at a meeting of the Committee to take effect from the date of that meeting.

  1. Failure to appoint. The proceedings of the Committee shall not be invalidated by any vacancy among its Members or by any failure to appoint or any defect in the appointment or qualification of a Member.
  2. Declaration by Members. No person shall be entitled to act as a Member whether on a first or on any subsequent entry into office until after signing in the minute book of the Committee a declaration of acceptance and of willingness to act in the trusts of this Scheme. Committee members attending meetings now need to sign a minute book on arrival.
  3. Members not to be personally interested. Except in special circumstances with the approval in writing of the Commissioners no Member shall take or hold any interest in any property belonging to the Charity otherwise than as a trustee for the purposes thereof, or receive any remuneration, or be interested in the supply of work or goods, at the cost of the Charity.

MEETINGS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE

  1. Meetings of the Committee. The Committee shall hold at least two ordinary meetings in each year. A special meeting may be summoned at any time by the chairman or by any two Members upon seven clear days’ notice being given to all the other Members of the matters to be discussed.

l6. Chairman.

(1) At the first meeting in each year after the annual general meeting the Committee shall elect one of their number to be chairman of their meetings until the commencement of the first meeting after the annual general meeting in the following year and may also elect one of their number to be vice-chairman. The chairman and vice-chairman shall always be eligible for re-election.

(2) If the chairman and vice-chairman (if any) are absent from any meeting of the Committee the Members shall choose one of their number to be chairman of the meeting before any other business is transacted.

  1. Voting. Except as hereinbefore provided every matter shall be determined by the majority of votes of the Members present and voting on the question but in the case of equality of votes the chairman of the meeting shall have a second or casting vote.
  2. Minutes and accounts. A minute book and books of account shall be provided and kept by the Committee.
  3. Rules. Within the limits prescribed by this Scheme the Committee may from time to time make and alter rules for the conduct of their business and for the summoning and conduct of their meetings and in particular with reference to –

(I) The terms and conditions upon which the said buildings may be used for the purposes specified in the Scheme by persons or bodies other than the Committee and the sum (if any) to be paid for such use;

(2) the appointment of an auditor, treasurer and such other unpaid officers as the Committee may consider necessary and the fixing of their respective terms of office.

(3) the engagement and dismissal of such paid officers and servants as the Committee may consider necessary; and

(4) the number of Members who shall form a quorum at meetings of the Committee, provided that the number of Members who shall form a quorum shall not be less than one-third of the total number of Members for the time being.

INSURANCE

  1. Insurance. The Committee shall insure the said building and the furniture and effects therein to the full value thereof against fire and other usual risks arising out of the ownership of property and the employment of persons.

APPLICATION OF INCOME

  1. Receipts and expenditure.

(I) The income of the Charity including all payments for the use of the said building and all donations for the benefit thereof shall be paid into a trust account at such bank as the Committee shall from time to time prescribe.

(2) The moneys standing to the credit of the said account shall be applied as the Committee shall decide in insuring as aforesaid, in maintaining and repairing the said building and the furniture and effects therein and in paying all rent (if any), rates taxes, salaries of paid officers and servants and other outgoings and in otherwise furthering the object of the Charity.

  1. Surplus cash. Sums of cash at any time belonging to the Charity not needed for immediate working purposes shall be invested.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

  1. Annual general meeting.

(1) There shall be an annual general meeting in connection with the Charity which shall be held in the month of March in each year or as soon as practicable thereafter.

(2) All inhabitants of the area of benefit of 18 years of age and upward shall be entitled to attend and vote at the annual general meeting.

(3) The first annual general meeting shall be convened by the existing Trustees of the Charity every subsequent annual general meeting shall be convened by the Committee.

(4) Public notice of every annual general meeting shall be given in the area of benefit at least 14 days before the date thereof.

(5) Before any other business is transacted at the first annual general meeting after the date of this Scheme, the persons present thereat shall appoint a chairman of the meeting. The chairman of subsequent annual general meetings shall be the chairman for the time being of the Committee, but if he or she is not present, before any other business is transacted, the persons present shall appoint a chairman of the meeting. (6) The Committee shall present to each annual general meeting the report and accounts of the Charity for the preceding year.

LETTING AND SALE

  1. Letting. Subject to the condition that the use of the remainder of the said land and building for the object of the Charity shall not be unduly interfered with, the Committee may let any part thereof not for the time being required for use for the said object .but the Committee shall not without the sanction of the Commissioners or a competent court create any tenancy wholly or partly in consideration of a fine or for a term ending more than 22 years after it is granted or for less than the best rent obtainable. ??
  2. Sale. If at any time the Committee decide that on the grounds of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to discontinue the use of the whole or part of the land belonging to the Charity and numbered 2 in the said schedule for the object of the Charity, and that decision is confirmed by a resolution passed by a majority of the inhabitants of the area of benefit of 18 years of age and upward attending and voting at a meeting of which public notice has been given in the area of benefit at least 14 days before the date thereof, the Committee may subject to the authority of a further Order or Orders of the Commissioners sell the said land or any part thereof and may do and execute all proper acts and assurances for carrying any such sale into effect. Some people have talked about selling the hall.  Personally I am not in favour but how easy would that be ?
  3. Proceeds of sale.

(I) Unless the Commissioners otherwise direct the clear proceeds of any such sale as aforesaid shall be invested in trust for the Charity.

(2) Thereafter, the Committee shall apply the clear income and subject to the approval of the Commissioners the property of the Charity in furthering the object of the Charity or for such other charitable purposes for the general benefit of the inhabitants of the area of benefit as the Committee think fit.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

  1. Donations. The Committee may accept any donations or property for the general of the Charity and they may also accept donations or property for any special objects connected with the Charity not inconsistent with the provisions of this Scheme.
  1. Questions under Scheme. Any question as to the construction of this Scheme or as to the regularity or the validity of any acts done or about to be done under this Scheme shall be determined by the Commissioners upon such application made to them for the purpose as they think sufficient.

SCHEDULE

The following land situate in the Parish of Stoke St. Michael, in the County of Somerset:-

  1. Land containing 2,722 square feet or thereabouts, having a frontage to 76 feet or thereabouts on the north side to the Paddock of the Knatchbull Arms, with the buildings thereon known as the Memorial Hall and being the land comprised in a conveyance dated the 16th July 1921 made between Dora Estella Knatchbull of the first part, Sir John Francis Fortesque Horner of the second part, and Wyndham Charles Padfield, Arthur Louis Doust and the Retiring Trustees of the third part.
  2. Land containing 2,052 square feet or thereabouts, being the land adjoining the Memorial Hall comprised in a conveyance dated the 28th March 1936 made between the Oakhill Brewery Company Ltd of the one part and Henry Loxton Hill and two others of the other part.

£9I3 cash on deposit account at the Shepton Mallet branch of Lloyds Bank PLC.

£1,098 cash on current account at the said branch of the said bank. This schedule is made up to the 15th June 1989.

Sealed by Order of the Commissioners this 20th day of June 1990.