Issue - meetings

(a)   resignations and vacancies

(b)   Humanist request

a)      Resignations and vacancies: The Chairman advised that there were currently four vacancies that needed to be filled as follows:

i)                    The Free Churches:

ii)                   Church of England, a nomination had been agreed and would be forwarded to the clerk.

iii)                 NAHT: the clerk agreed to write to the head office.

iv)                 ACSL: the clerk agreed to write to the Chairman, Kathy Winrow.

b)      Humanist request: The Chairman reminded the meeting that he had sought advice from the Borough Solicitor, copies of which had been circulated. There was no requirement to provide a formal slot in Group A, as humanism was not a faith. It was noted that SACRE had the power itself to co-opt a humanist if it felt that was appropriate and if there was a vacancy. No vacancy existed at the time of the meeting under the existing constitution.

It was unanimously agreed that the SACRE could not co-opt a humanist representative nor would recommend to BFC any change in SACRE’s constitution.