Alerts

 The local co-ordinators for Neighbourhood Watch in west, north and east Dorset have been notified by the police of an increased risk of theft from central heating oil tanks in these areas. A gang seems to be at work and have targetted village halls in these areas as well as in Somerset. It is difficult to secure tanks to prevent this from happening but halls are recommended, if at all possible, to keep such tanks within locked compounds making access that much more diffiucult. 

 The Midsomer Norton's community centre, which somes under Community Action's area, has been requisitioned by the local PCT

 Penalties for late payments

You should be aware that charities (and that will include halls) which employ staff will fall within the new penalty regime which, for the first time, will penalise employers for the late payment of monthly PAYE and National Insurance Contribution payments, unless a time to pay arrangement has been agreed with HM Revenue & Customs. - Please be careful!

 There’s a  Government White paper on informal adult learning which is making recommendations that publicly owned buildings to be made available free or at a low cost for learning – this may have implications for village halls’ ability to generate income in the future – but may equally be of little significance to them 

Here is an extract: