Can a PC meet in a church or a building controlled by a church at a rate well below market value?

Question

Our PC has been offered office and meeting accommodation in a new building owned by the church, and hence the diocese. The rate is £100pa. This office will have a separate entrance, but the building will be connected to the church which would cement ownership. The PC currently has its own freehold premises elsewhere in the community, but the church might be construed as offering a well below cost facility in a community where lawfully the PC precepts the residents and might be considered well able to provide its own accommodation. Would such a move be wise and potentially seen by the community as in some way favouring one particular strand of religion? Would it be wise for the PC to make itself dependent on a religious organisation with failing attendances? Finally, there will be members of any community who, in principle, will not enter a church. As the first tier of local government could this be an unwise move for a PC to make, or could it actually be illegal?

I look forward to your response.

Ronnie

Answer 1

It doesn't look as if it would be illegal, but otherwise it's a matter of judgement and the views of the civil parish. Local people need to decide whether the office on offer would be a good place for the council or not. There are also obvious factors over what would happen with the existing building and what alternatives exist if the arrangement with the church building should at some point fall through. The council would never be wholly dependent as it can always alter the precept to support whatever alternatives might be available. Although many would argue that the precept should be as low as can be practically achieved and be glad to obtain cheap premises. Some might argue that the association with the church is bad; others might say that parish churches and their ancillaries are part of our heritage, regardless of current religious trends. So, very much a matter of local opinion and practical considerations!

Comments

Thank you. The concern of some on the PC is that in order to pay for this building the PCC has to go on a fund raising campaign across the community. I and others (but not a majority) feel that this would be damaging to both organisations - on the one hand asking for donations and on the other offering the PC virtually free accommodation based on the money raised. The PCC currently has about 60%.

---

You may well be right - your local knowledge is more relevant than anything I can say.