Thames Suite Terms and Conditions

Oxford University Computing Services (OUCS) is part of Oxford University. The Thames Suite comprises five IT rooms which are available for hire by University departments and external organisations. There are conditions of use which these Standard Terms and Conditions set out.

  1. All bookings made by persons in respect of rooms at OUCS are accepted subject to the following Terms and Conditions, which shall form the contract between OUCS and the Hirer.

Definitions

  1. In these terms and conditions:
    1. “OUCS” means Oxford University Computing Services
    2. “Room” refers to one of the rooms of The Thames Suite, comprised of Evenlode room, Isis room, Windrush room, Cherwell room, and Kennet room.
    3. “Courses Office” means the Course and Administration Office at OUCS
    4. “Client” means the person in contact with Courses Office
    5. “Hirer” means any person, persons or representative of the organisation named in a room booking invoiced by OUCS
    6. ”In Writing” means by letter/email/fax

Use of Rooms

  1. Use of any Room is by permission of OUCS who reserve the right to refuse any booking or admission at their discretion.

Room Bookings

  1. A Room may be provisionally reserved with the Courses Office. A provisional reservation will be held for 14 working days but will be released unless confirmation in writing (E-mail/Fax/Post) is received by the Courses Office. At the point of reservation specific software and computer requirements, and catering if applicable, must be indicated e.g. Office 2007 and refreshments for 30 course participants and so on.
  2. Following confirmation of the reservation by the Courses Office, the Client must send a Purchase order to confirm the booking
  3. All booking requests must be confirmed in writing. No binding contract for the hire of facilities and equipment shall exist until OUCS has issued its written confirmation of booking.
  4. The Hirer agrees to confirm to the Courses Office in writing the final numbers attending (including special dietary requirements), five working days prior to the event. The number given at this time will be the number invoiced, unless numbers increase. If numbers are not notified by this time the OUCS reserves the right to charge for the original estimate of numbers attending, or actual numbers attending, whichever is the higher.
  5. Prices quoted are exclusive of VAT which the Hirer shall pay to OUCS in addition, where due. OUCS reserves the right to alter prices or other details without notice. However, once OUCS’s written confirmation has been issued, prices quoted will be honoured.
  6. The Hirer further agrees to pay OUCS such other charges as arise in accordance with these Terms and Conditions
  7. Final invoice payment must be received by OUCS within 30 days from the date of the final invoice.
  8. Where two or more persons or organisation are named in a room hire booking invoiced by OUCS they shall be jointly and severally liable under these Terms and Conditions.
  9. The Courses office must be informed prior to the event of the ages of any young persons due to attend. A young person is defined as any person under the age of 18.
  10. Rooms are allocated on the basis of minimum/maximum numbers indicated at the time of booking. Should numbers be different from those agreed, OUCS has the right to allocate a different room and/or levy an additional room rental charge.
  11. The Hirer is in breach of this contract if:
    1. He fails to pay to OUCS any sum of money payable to OUCS on the due date
    2. The function is presented or conducted by the Hirer other than in accordance with the event content notified to OUCS at the time of the booking and approved by Course Administration.

Cancellations

Cancellation by OUCS

  1. OUCS reserves the right to cancel the booking forthwith and without any liability on its part in the event of the Hirer failing to perform any of the obligations contained within these Terms and Conditions
  2. OUCS reserves the right to cancel the booking upon immediate notice if the holding of the event is prevented by reason of circumstances beyond the control of OUCS, including but not limited to failure of supply of electricity or telephone, flood, fire risk, Government restriction, act of war, or act of God strike, accident, fire, flood or other emergency condition. OUCS will attempt to give as much notice as possible but in no event shall it be liable for any loss or damage arising from the cancellation.

Cancellation by the Hirer

  1. The Hirer may cancel a room hire booking by giving notice in writing. In the event that the Hirer cancels a Room hire booking, OUCS reserves the right to impose cancellation charges.
    • In excess of 42 working days – Nil
    • 28 – 42 working days - 25%
    • 14 – 27 working days - 50%
    • 8 – 13 working days - 75%
    • Less than 7 working days - 100%
  2. If an event is cancelled 3 working days or less before the start date, catering charges may also apply.

Catering

  1. The provision of all food and refreshments will be by OUCS’s nominated caterer unless prior written permission has been granted for the use of an alternative caterer. Permission will be subject to the chosen caterer passing OUCS’s food safety and hygiene audits.
  2. Special menus to meet dietary, religious or ethnic requirements can be provided on prior request
  3. Prices of food and beverage may be subject to change under certain exceptional circumstances.

Hours of use

  1. The Hirer and their course participants shall vacate the premises not later than the time agreed in the confirmation letter. Failure to do so may result in an extra charge being levied for each hour or part thereof beyond the agreed time. In addition, if an event exceeds the contracted period of hire and causes a conflict with a following event, and despite notice does not end, then OUCS reserves the right to enter the room and end the event forthwith.

Other Points

  1. The nature of the function shall be notified to OUCS at the time of the booking when completing the booking form
  2. OUCS does not endorse or support the meeting programmes and/or content of any external function held on its premises.
  3. The OUCS/University Crest and name are trademarked (Trade Marks Act 1994) and may not be used by any other body.
  4. In the event that the Hirer uses the OUCS logo or University Crest and any branding without permission, OUCS reserves the right to cancel the function without the return of Room Hire payments and any other deposit pre-payments made and/ or to request the withdrawal/closure of all such publicity material, website etc at the Hirer’s expense.
  5. The Hirer will advise OUCS in writing of the identities of all suppliers of goods and services, approximate delivery times and any third parties, agents or contractors.
  6. Permission is required for all photographs, filming within the OUCS premises.
  7. The Hirer shall not sub-let the hired rooms or any part thereof without written consent from OUCS

Insurance

  1. Hirers external to the University must effect and maintain Public Liability Insurance, which will indemnify the Hirer, the Hirer’s contractors and OUCS against any claims, costs, proceedings, charges and expenses incurred in respect of any injury to any person or loss of or damage to property, which occurs while the Hirer, its employees, guests or contractors are on or about the premises of OUCS. The Hirer shall at the request of the OUCS produce to the OUCS the policy of insurance together with evidence of the payment of the current premium. Any accident must be reported to OUCS as soon as possible after its occurrence, but in any event, prior to departing from the OUCS.

Damage to OUCS property and items not permitted in Rooms

  1. The Hirer shall leave the rooms in a clean and tidy manner and remove any articles belonging to them by the end of the hire period.
  2. The Hirer should not leave the room unattended while unlocked and is responsible for locking the Room and returning the key at the end of the hire period.
  3. The Hirer shall be liable for any loss or damage which may be incurred by the Hirer or any person or persons in his employ or any person or persons in his party. The Hirer shall ensure that nothing is fixed to the floors, walls, ceilings or any other interior or exterior of the buildings by means of nails, screws, drawing pins, blue tack, glue or any other means unless agreed in writing with OUCS prior to the function.

IT Regulations

  1. Hirers agree to abide the University IT Regulation http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/statutes/regulations/196-052.shtml

Software Use and Installation

  1. Machines come with a standard set of software installed. Please check at the time of booking the software and version that is available.
  2. All software used in the Rooms must be covered by a valid licence. Software installed in the Rooms by OUCS complies with this condition. It is the responsibility of the hirer to ensure that software installed on computers brought into the room is correctly licensed.
  3. Software can only be installed on OUCS computers by prior written agreement with OUCS. Hirers will need to satisfy OUCS that they have the correct type and number of licences before installation can commence. Hirers will be responsible for uninstalling software and licences when necessary.
  4. Test machines with same configuration and software set as the Rooms are available and Hirers can use these by prior arrangement to test their demonstrations and exercises, and connection to external servers etc will work as expected
  5. OUCS makes no guarantee that hirer’s software will be compatible with its own hardware and software. It is recommended that hirer’s ask for technical advice about installing and uninstalling software as part of the booking process.

Network connectivity

  1. By prior arrangement we can provide wireless access e.g. for laptops. OUCS is not responsible for loss of services by these providers. These services are governed by their own service level agreements.

Equipment

  1. OUCS accepts no responsibility for any hired equipment or conference equipment provided by, for, or on behalf of the Hirer, left unattended prior to, during, or after the function.
  2. OUCS cannot accept responsibility for any items lost or mislaid on the premises
  3. All items stored are at the Hirer’s risk
  4. Any items not collected within 24 hours of the end of the function will be disposed of unless prior arrangements have been made. Items stored outside these times may incur additional charges
  5. OUCS will not be responsible for any item sent by courier that gets lost or damaged or for any items left at OUCS after the event has taken place.
  6. No additions or alterations to the lighting, loud speakers, microphones or other electrical arrangements may be made without the written consent of OUCS.  No electrical apparatus may be brought on to the premises without the written consent of the OUCS who must be satisfied that the equipment has been checked for safety.
  7. Laptop computers may be connected to display equipment subject to the approval of the OUCS IT technician. Hirers are responsible for providing any connectors and adapters required. Mains chargers for laptops are subject to the same safety conditions as other electrical equipment.
  8. OUCS shall not be responsible for any loss or damage to any property arising out of the holding of a function, or for any loss including but not limited to any breakdown of machinery, failure of supply of electricity or telephone, flood, fire risk, Government restriction, act of war, or act of God strike, accident, fire, flood or other emergency condition which may cause OUCS’s premises to be temporarily closed, or the function interrupted.

Fire safety

  1. No smoking is allowed in any part of the building. The Hirer shall ensure that there is no interference whatsoever during the period of hire with fire extinguishers or any other fire fighting equipment except in the case of an emergency.  The Hirer must not interfere with fire doors and doors fitted with automatic closures.  The Hirer shall keep every corridor, passage and exit of the rooms clear of obstruction and ready for use in an emergency. 

Data Protection Act

  1. The details of the Hirer and, where different, the Client will be held by the OUCS on its computer database for use by its accounts department for maintaining proper records and by the Courses Office for event management and marketing purposes. It will not be passed on to any third parties.

Infringement of copyright

  1. The Hirer shall not use the premises for the showing of a film, sound recording or broadcast in public or for the delivery in public of any lecture in which copyright subsists without the consent of the owner of the said copyright, or in any other manner infringe any subsisting copyright.  The Hirer shall indemnify OUCS against infringement of copyright occurring during the period of hire.

Compliance with conditions

  1. In the event of the refusal to comply with these conditions or any reasonable instructions given by OUCS, the Hirer and any persons attending the events may be excluded from the premises.  The Hirer will remain liable in respect of the hire charges as herein contained.

Complaints

  1. Any complaint connected with the hire of the premises should be made to OUCS within seven working days of the function.
  2. OUCS reserves the right to amend or vary these conditions or impose additional conditions without notice.