Council prayers ‘optional’ following court ruling
TIME for prayer before certain meetings of Rother District Council will still be set aside, allowing councillors and members of the public to choose if they wish to attend.
This follows the outcome of a legal challenge from the National Secular Society against Bideford Town Council, which ruled having religious prayers on council agendas was unlawful.
Rother has traditionally held Christian prayers before meetings of the full council and the charter trustees as as chance for members to reflect on the morals and ethics behind making decisions.
Andrew Fleming, a former council chairman and a member of the National Secular Society, wrote to chief executive Derek Stevens following the test case ruling last week by Mr Justice Ouseley in London.
Mr Fleming said in his letter: “As a result of this ruling I ask you to advise the Chairman of Rother and the Mayor of Bexhill to respect the law and desist from beginning their meetings with prayers.
“There should be a public statement to citizens of Bexhill confirming this action.”
This follows a letter from Mr Fleming to Mr Stevens in August last year calling for the practise to cease, which was refused.
Rother District Council chief executive Derek Stevens said: “The holding of prayers at the commencement of full council meetings and meetings of the Charter Trustees has been a long-held tradition that has never given rise to complaint or concern from councillors – indeed Mr Fleming did not object to this practice when he was chairman of the council.
“The court case focused on whether or not it was legal to include prayers as an item on the formal summons and agenda.
“In light of this, prayers will continue to be said at full council and charter trustee meetings, but it is likely they will now be conducted before the meeting formally opens and the wording on the summons will be changed to comply with the High Court ruling.”
• Rye Town Council has amended its agenda to include time for prayers before the meeting, making attendence by councillors and members of the public optional.
Meanwhile Battle Town Council ‘has never felt it necessary to include prayers in its agenda’, according to town clerk Peter Mills.
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Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Monday 28 May 2012
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