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Hall Manager – Vacancy – FILLED

STEEP VILLAGE HALL MANAGER Hired!

Steep Village Hall is looking for a reliable, enthusiastic and highly organized person to run the hall on a day to day basis, and to promote it as a venue. This is a very varied role, needing good administrative and customer service skills, familiarity with on-line booking and financial reporting systems, experience of property and people management, and a willingness to work in close collaboration with the management committee.  

Flexible hours, in the region of 1 day per week, spread over the week and possibly occasional weekends. Pay according to experience. For more details please contact [email protected] 

Steep VIllage Hall

YOUR VILLAGE HALL NEEDS YOU – TAKE 2

YOUR VILLAGE HALL NEEDS YOU! (Take 2)

Please come to a meeting on:

SATURDAY 5th March at 10.00 AM

STEEP VILLAGE HALL

New Date

Following the lifting of “Plan B” restrictions, the Trustees have decided it is safe  for the meeting originally planned for 11 December to take place.

Steep VIllage Hall

POST-COVID

STEEP WAR MEMORIAL VILLAGE CLUB

FACES AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

CAN YOU HELP?

 

We need YOUR input and ideas

 

Format of the Meeting

  1. Welcome and introductions
  2. Presentation of an overview of Village Hall finances
  3. Coffee and cake
  4. Round table discussions – We would like your ideas and suggestions
  5. Plenary
Steep VIllage Hall

YOUR VILLAGE HALL NEEDS YOU!

Please come to a meeting on:

SATURDAY 11th DECEMBER at 3.00 PM

STEEP VILLAGE HALL

POSTPONED

In the light of the recent changes to Government advice and uncertainty on numbers attending combined with the rising number of Covid cases in East Hampshire, the Management Committee has taken the decision to cancel the community meeting due to be held this Saturday (11th)

 

The Management Committee will decide how to move this forward in the New Year when there will (hopefully) be a bit more certainty about Covid.   

Steep VIllage Hall

POST-COVID

STEEP WAR MEMORIAL VILLAGE CLUB

FACES AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

CAN YOU HELP?

 

We need YOUR input and ideas

Steep Village Hall Night Skies

Steep’s Night Skies

,

Steep Village Hall Night Skies

STEEP VILLAGE HALL
Monday 25 October 6.30PM

Join Dan Oakley, SDNP Dark Skies Officer, to hear about the importance of the dark and explore the heavens with his telescopes.

For more information please contact Freddie Holmes on [email protected]

Consultation

••••••••••••←→

Consultation Updates

In addition to the papers outlining outlining options here:

The Future of the Village Hall Land

Options Appraisal

and the questionnaire here:

Consultation Questions

There are a number of opportunities to meet, subject to Covid regulations, either at the Hall or during an “Online/In Person” HYBRID Meeting.  Details below.

Additional Ways to Contribute to the Consultation

Consultation Questions

••←→

THE CONSULTATION

We want to hear your views on what the future holds for SWMVC land. It is our responsibility as trustees to take the final decision, but your feedback is vital as you are the beneficiaries of the charity.

This is not a referendum, but your views are important and will be taken into account.

The consultation runs until Friday 4th June 2021

QUESTIONS

Before you answer the consultation questions, please read the two documents THE FUTURE OF THE VILLAGE HALL LAND and OPTIONS APPRAISAL

In the following questionnaire, name and email are, unusually, optional. We hope you will complete them so we can get in touch if we would like to clarify anything.
For the questions 1-3 please choose a selection 1-5 where 1, is Not Very Important and 5, is Very Important
For the questions 4 & 5 please choose a selection 1-5 where 1, is Disagree and 5, is Agree

The consultation period runs until Friday 4th June 2021

OPTIONS APPRAISAL

••←→

OPTIONS APPRAISAL

This document should be read in conjunction with the trustees’ paper on

THE FUTURE OF THE VILLAGE HALL LAND

which provides the wider context for this discussion.

BACKGROUND

The trustees* are focused on meeting the charitable aims of the Steep War Memorial Village Club (SWMVC) in the best possible way.

The impending development of the adjacent Steep in Need land cannot be ignored and presents trustees with an opportunity to significantly increase the benefit of the SWMVC land to the beneficiaries (the residents of Steep).

The impending development of the adjacent Steep in Need land cannot be ignored and presents trustees with an opportunity to significantly increase the benefit of the SWMVC land to the beneficiaries (the residents of Steep).

*Trustees: the word trustees on this site refers to Steep Parish Councillors acting together in their role as sole managing trustee of the Steep War Memorial Village Club charity.

Steep Village Hall Aerial Shot

A CHANGE OF APPROACH

Proposals previously shared with residents were developed on the basis that

  • Steep in Need and the SWMVC would jointly enter an agreement to sell the Steep in Need field and the rough grassland at the back of the SWMVC land to the preferred developer   
  • The developer would submit a planning application that met the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) requirements for the site – see pages 253-254 (Chapter9-Sites-Settlements.pdf (southdowns.gov.uk) , including  a proportion of designated open space which would be transferred to the ownership of the SWMVC in due course.

Any development on the Church Road site must be in line with the allocation policy set by the SDNPA (Local Plan reference SD89).  This includes a requirement for a proportion of the total area defined by the SDNPA in the Local Plan to be provided as public open space directly accessible from the village hall and car park.

The open space has frequently been referred to, including in the consultation undertaken in the autumn of 2020 by the Parish Council, as the ‘20% Open Space’.  This is because the accompanying text about the allocation site in the South Downs Local Plan says that proposals should provide approximately 20% of the total area as informal public open space, recognising that the site (in practice the SWMVC land) has previously been earmarked for recreational use.  However, this figure is not specified in the allocation policy and the policy takes precedence over the accompanying text. 

The actual amount of open space will be determined through the planning process which is ‘landscape-led’, taking account of a range of factors including the lie of the land, natural features and ecological findings.  There is no expectation that it would be less than 20% of the total area and might be more, depending on the planners’ assessment.  It could, however, be less than 20% of the developed area if this is only part of the allocation site. 

To the best of the trustees’ knowledge, if there is no agreement between the SWMVC and the developer and a planning application is submitted for the Steep in Need field alone, there would not be an automatic requirement for 20% of that area to be provided as open space.  We do not, and cannot at this stage, know what the actual amount of open space would be in those circumstances. 

The SWMVC land represents 15% of the allocation site, so the designated open space will certainly be greater than this area.  Once development is complete, it is intended that any land designated as open space that is not already owned by the SWMVC will be transferred to it.  All options therefore result in an increase in the total amount of land owned by the SWMVC.

NOTE ON THE OPEN SPACE

Any development on the Church Road site must be in line with the allocation policy set by the SDNPA (Local Plan reference SD89).  This includes a requirement for a proportion of the total area defined by the SDNPA in the Local Plan to be provided as public open space directly accessible from the village hall and car park.

The open space has frequently been referred to, including in the consultation undertaken in the autumn of 2020 by the Parish Council, as the ‘20% Open Space’. This is because the accompanying text about the allocation site in the South Downs Local Plan says that proposals should provide approximately 20% of the total area as informal public open space, recognising that the site (in practice the SWMVC land) has previously been earmarked for recreational use.  However, this figure is not specified in the allocation policy and the policy takes precedence over the accompanying text. 

The actual amount of open space will be determined through the planning process which is ‘landscape-led’, taking account of a range of factors including the lie of the land, natural features and ecological findings.  There is no expectation that it would be less than 20% of the total area and might be more, depending on the planners’ assessment.  It could, however, be less than 20% of the developed area if this is only part of the allocation site. 

To the best of the trustees’ knowledge, if there is no agreement between the SWMVC and the developer and a planning application is submitted for the Steep in Need field alone, there would not be an automatic requirement for 20% of that area to be provided as open space.  We do not, and cannot at this stage, know what the actual amount of open space would be in those circumstances. 

The SWMVC land represents 15% of the allocation site, so the designated open space will certainly be greater than this area.  Once development is complete, it is intended that any land designated as open space that is not already owned by the SWMVC will be transferred to it.  All options therefore result in an increase in the total amount of land owned by the SWMVC.

THE OPTIONS – Overview

There are two central questions that distinguish the different options:

  1. Whether to enter into an agreement with the developer, either for sale or for the rough grassland to be treated as part of the open space required by SDNPA
  2. Whether to make any immediate changes to the layout of the SWMVC site (the Village Hall site) to enhance its use for recreational purposes, in line with the charity’s objects.

If the trustees do not enter into any agreement with the developer, the SWMVC site would stay exactly as it is in the short term.  This would not rule out future change, but any enhancements would require funding.  Once the development is complete, a portion of the SIN field is expected to be added to the SWMVC land as designated open space.  This is option 1.

If the trustees sell the rough grassland to the developer, it would be incorporated into the development. In line with the SDNPA policy, a proportion of the total area would be transferred to the ownership of SWMVC at the end of the process.  This is option 2.

An alternative to sale is for the trustees to enter into an agreement that the rough grassland would be counted as part of the designated open space, with the addition of a portion of the Steep in Need field.  This could be on the basis of no immediate change to the layout of the Village Hall site, or a reconfiguration to open up the land at the front and join it up with the SIN land.  These are option 3 (no immediate change) and option 4 (reconfiguration).

A final option is to swap the rough grassland for a like-for-like replacement elsewhere in the village.  We have assumed that the rough grassland would then be incorporated into the development in a similar way to option 2.  This is option 5.

The options are described in more detail below, with an analysis of advantages and disadvantages of each.

ANALYSIS OF THE OPTIONS

The Options

OUR ASSESSMENT

Having considered all the options identified, the trustees have discounted options 2 and 5.  These two options share a common disadvantage of reducing the size of the SWMVC site gifted by the Badley family.  In view of the nature of the gift, in memory of men from Steep who died in the First World War, this merits serious weight.  Trustees are also conscious of the concerns already expressed by some residents about this possibility.  Since the advantages of these options can be secured through means that do not involve selling the rough grassland, the trustees do not propose to pursue them further.

The three other options all have specific advantages and disadvantages.  The trustees’ view is that option 4 is in the best interests of the beneficiaries of the SWMVC.  By entering into an agreement with the developer, the trustees would further the objects of the SWMVC both in the short term, with enhanced recreational space, and in the longer term by securing the financial sustainability of the Village Hall.  Under option 4, the designated open space required by the development would be provided as a single continuous area in a location that allows people to connect with neighbours and their surroundings.  As such it is a close fit for the objects of the charity as well as for the key themes that emerged from the autumn 2020 consultation on the open space: a place where people can:

  • come together and socialise.
  • enjoy and nurture our natural environment.
  • pause to reflect in a tranquil setting.

Option 3 offers some of the advantages of option 4 but would be likely to leave the designated open space as two small areas separated by the car park, as would option 1.  Both options 1 and 3 would leave the rough grassland intact, including any biodiversity characteristics, and option 1 might result in a larger overall area of open space but this cannot be known with any certainty.  Taking all these factors into account, the trustees have selected option 4 as their preferred option.  It would require planning permission and the agreement of the Charity Commission.  Option 3 is considered a good fallback if this cannot be secured. 

Before reaching a final decision on which of these options to progress, the trustees will carefully consider the feed-back received as a result of this consultation and assess the balance of risks associated with any action.

Clicking on the button below to  express your views.

Click to Open the Consultation

The consultation period has been extended until Friday 4th June 2021

THE FUTURE OF THE VILLAGE HALL LAND

••←→

THE FUTURE OF THE VILLAGE HALL LAND

Over recent months the Village Hall trustees have been considering the future of the charity and its land. We are now asking for feedback from the residents of Steep to help make the best decision.

BACKGROUND

In 1920 the Badley family gave land on Church Road for a village hall, in memory of the men of Steep killed in World War I.  A charity, the Steep War Memorial Village Club (SWMVC), was set up to provide a centre for social activities and “for all forms of physical and mental recreation and for educational purposes… for the benefit of the inhabitants of the Parish of Steep”.

Since the 1930s Steep Parish Council has been the sole trustee of SWMVC, regulated by the Charity Commission.  As trustees, Parish Councillors have a duty both to fulfill SWMVC’s charitable objectives and to secure its long-term future.  We do this mainly by running the Village Hall, which is used by local clubs and organisations and is available to hire for events. 

Prior to the pandemic, the Hall’s income broadly covered its running costs, and it was no longer being subsidised by the Parish Council.  But we have to think about the future.  The Hall’s last major renovation was 1999, i.e. 20 years ago.  Recent surveys brought up various issues that will need attention, and there are things we could do to make the building work and look better.

Steep Village Hall Aerial Shot

It would also be great if we could ‘future-proof’ the charity financially, to make sure it is there for the next generation of Steep residents.  We do not have a large endowment, and so have to consider very carefully any opportunity to put the charity on a more secure long-term financial footing.  This is one aspect of the situation we are now facing.

As well as the Hall itself, the charity owns some land on the south side of Church Road.  This consists of the Hall car park and just under half an acre of rough grassland, stretching back to the hedge line dividing the Hall’s land from Bedales’.  Although it is open to the public, we feel that as it is this land does not fulfil SWMVC’s objects.  It is also largely inaccessible for wheel-chair users, people with prams or buggys, or anyone with limited mobility or sight.  This consultation is about the future of this land.

To the east of the Hall’s land is the field of around 1.4 acres.  This was assigned in the nineteenth century as “allotments for the labouring poor of Steep” and held since then as a charitable trust.  This is now in the stewardship of Steep in Need, an independent charity created in 2015 to help people in financial need in Steep and the adjoining parishes (see Steep in Need website – www.steepinneed.org.uk – for full details).  They are a separate organisation from SWMVC and from the Parish Council.

STEEP AND THE SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN

In 2019 the South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) adopted a Local Plan which has some important implications for Steep.  First, it changes the settlement boundary – the area within which development is normally allowed – and makes it more tightly focused on Church Road as the centre of Steep.

Secondly, it designates Steep in Need and part of SWMVC’s land as an allocation site which could be developed to meet housing need in the National Park.  The SDNPA would be likely to approve an application for 8-12 dwellings, with various conditions such as retaining mature trees and avoiding hard surfaces.  Crucially, around 20% of the site should be public open space accessible from the Village Hall.

RECENT HISTORY OF THE CHURCH ROAD SITE

Over the last three years Steep in Need and SWMVC trustees have been working together to see how both charities’ land could best be used to help both charities’ objectives:  Steep in Need’s for the relief of poverty, and SWMVC’s for recreation.  Together we decided to sell the land to the developer, who would build a mix of market and affordable homes on the site, while keeping around 20% as public open space.  This would be returned to SWMVC ownership as a recreational space for the whole village.

Steep in Need’s land makes up 85% of the allocation site and they took the lead in choosing a preferred developer and commissioning  preparatory works, such as ecology studies and ground water monitoring.  More details can be found on their website.

After discussions with the Charity Commission and concerns from some residents, SWMVC’s trustees have decided NOT to proceed with the joint sale.  Steep in Need can develop their land without our involvement and have recently signed an agreement with Wilson Designer Homes Ltd.  We are now considering how best to make the Village Hall land work for its beneficiaries in this situation.

THE BROADER PICTURE: A CENTRE FOR STEEP?

The Hall and its land are a vital part of village life and need to work as well as it can for the whole village.  As trustees we want to find a solution that fulfills the aims of SWMVC and also meets the spirit of the original Badley gift.

Steep is an unusual parish: we have more than 400 households spread over an area larger than Petersfield but no obvious village centre.  The main concentration of residents is along Church Road, where there is also the church, Steep Common, the primary school and the entrance to Bedales.

We believe we have now a unique chance to create an attractive public space on Church Road.  We could bring our grassed area to the front of the site and join it to open space in the Steep in Need development to make a new ‘village green’ for all the people of Steep to enjoy.  The car park could be moved to the back of the site.

A pleasant public space in the middle of the village directly fulfills SWMVC’s objectives by providing a place for physical and mental recreation.  The recent Open Space Working Group consultation revealed that residents want somewhere to come together and socialise, to enjoy nature, and to pause to reflect in a tranquil setting.  Your responses also emphasized that we should think holistically about such a space, including the Village Hall land and the current car park.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO NOW?

This is a complex situation. Tt’s important that we understand and consider all the options so we can make the best decision for the long-term future of the charity and its beneficiaries, i.e. you, the people of Steep.

We have come up with five options for the SWMVC land, assuming that development will go ahead on the Steep in Need land.  These are set out briefly below and described in detail in the Options Appraisal document.

Under any of the options, all the open space created by the development would ultimately come into SWMVC ownership, increasing our land holding and making it easier for everyone to enjoy.  Some options would also improve our financial status, so we may be able to make improvements to the Village Hall and strengthen the charity’s future.

THE OPTIONS IN BRIEF

  1. Do nothing.  We could simply leave the hall and its surrounding land as it is.
  2. Sell the rough grassland to Wilson Designer Homes, the developer, with the final open space returned to SWMVC ownership.
  3. Leave the hall and surrounding land as it is but covenant the rough grassland to be part of the final open space.  The land would remain in SWMVC ownership and the developer would make a payment in return for the covenant.
  4. As option 3, but with SWMVC land rearranged by moving the car park to the back and creating a recreational area along Church Road.  This would be covenanted as part of the final open space in return for a payment from the developer.
  5. Sell the rough grassland and use the whole proceeds to buy equivalent land as a like-for-like replacement elsewhere in the village.  The current plot would presumably be included in the development and the final open space come back into SWMVC ownership

Please read the Options Appraisal for a fuller explanation of the differences between these options, and what we have considered in weighing them against each other.

We do not think that the options 2 and 5 have any clear benefits over the others and we do not plan to pursue them further.

The other three options have distinct features.  Option 1 represents the least change from the status quo.  Option 3 leaves the land unchanged, and in SWMVC ownership, but the payment would provide financial security for the charity. 

Option 4 creates a better space for recreation and reflection at the heart of Steep, in line with SWMVC’s objectives and residents’ wishes expressed in the open space consultation.

We think this is the best way both to secure a green centre for Steep and to fulfil SWMVCs long and short-term objectives.  It is important to realise that if the Village Hall land isn’t included in the development, there is no guarantee of 20% of the Steep in Need land being left as open space.

Rough-Area

LEGAL CHALLENGES & QUESTIONS

Over the past three years, there have been a number of legal and process challenges to the Parish Council, to the Village Hall charity and to the SDNPA about various aspects of any potential development in the centre of Steep.  We fully respect the rights of residents to hold us accountable for our actions, but we assure all residents that we have been working with care and in good faith throughout and are committed to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries of the charity.

THE CONSULTATION

We want to hear your views on what the future holds for the SWMVC land.  It is our responsibility as trustees to take the final decision, but your feedback is vital as you are the beneficiaries of the charity.  Although this is not a referendum, we will take your views into account and will publish a summary of the information from the consultation.

The key questions are:

The Key Questions Are:

Clicking on the button below to  express your views.

Click to Open the Consultation

The consultation period has been extended until Friday 4th June 2021

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