Many VB readers have been in touch with us today regarding the court ruling in relation to prayers forming part of council meetings.
A case had been brought to the courts by the National Secular Society and an atheist councillor in Devon, challenging religious prayers being on meeting agendas.
As anyone who has attended Isle of Wight council meetings will know, and as the agenda for the meeting clearly shows (see enlarged image below), prayers are usually led at the beginning of each meeting.
Labour councillor, Geoff Lumley, is the only councillor who usually waits outside the chamber until the prayers are finished, at which point he joins the meeting.
“Prayers as part of the formal meeting of a council is not lawful”
According to reports in the national press, Mr Justice Ouseley said this morning, “The saying of prayers as part of the formal meeting of a council is not lawful under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972, and there is no statutory power permitting the practice to continue.”
He went on to say, “A local authority has no power under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972, or otherwise, to hold prayers as part of a formal local authority meeting, or to summon councillors to such a meeting at which prayers are on the agenda.”
Awaiting council response on position
We got in touch with the chairman and press office at the Isle of Wight council asking for their position given the ruling.
At time of publishing they have failed to respond. We’ll update this article once we receive a response.
Update 13th Feb: IW Council leader Cllr David Pugh, said: “It remains our view that our prayers precede Full Council meetings and are not part of the formal agenda.
“We will however be reviewing our procedure, with a view to ensuring that prayers can continue to take place before the formal meeting commences. A clarification of this matter will be provided in advance of the next Full Council meeting.”
On hearing the news today (Friday), Cllr Geoff Lumley told VB, “I welcome this decision and only hope that as an atheist the effective longstanding exclusion of me from the formal commencement of Full Council meetings can be settled by a compromise.
“I am happy to talk to with anyone at County Hall to achieve something acceptable to all without the need for recourse to law.”
Will it have an impact on the Isle of Wight council?
Given that councillors are not forced to remain in the chamber during the prayers, we’re not sure whether this ruling will have any impact on the Isle of Wight council.
Mr Justice Ouseley did go on to say, “The saying of prayers in a local authority chamber before a formal meeting of such a body is lawful provided councillors are not formally summoned to attend.” [VB’s emphasis]
The decision by Mr Justice Ouseley was slammed today by the Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, who said, “Public authorities – be it Parliament or a parish council – should have the right to say prayers before meetings if they wish.”
Motion defeated in 2009
Back in June 2009, at the first meeting of the new Isle of Wight council, Cllr Geoff Lumley submitted a motion to end prayers at council meetings.
“This Council, in recognition of the diversity of religious beliefs and no beliefs in the community we represent, resolves to end the practice of offering Christian prayers at the commencement of Full Council meetings.”
The motion was seconded and debated but 33 councillors voted against with only five in favour (see minutes – PDF)
Scrapped from VTC meeting
Prayers at the Ventnor Town Council were also scrapped some time ago.
The move followed an incident whereby former Bonchurch town councillor, Maureen Cawley, stated that she was ‘offended’ because fellow town councillor, Debby Robinson, chose not to take part in prayers at the beginning of the meetings!
