The National Secular Society has welcomed Falkirk Council’s decision to remove voting privileges from religious representatives with reserved seats on the Executive Committee.
In a full meeting today (pictured), councillors unanimously agreed to remove voting powers from the three religious representatives appointed to the council’s Executive.
By law, local authorities in Scotland must appoint three religious representatives to their education committees, at least one of whom must be appointed by the Roman Catholic Church and one by the Church of Scotland.
The motion, proposed by Scottish National Party councillor Iain Sinclair, said “only elected members of the council will have the right to vote at the Executive Committee”.
A deputation made on behalf of the Catholic archdiocese of St. Andrews and Edinburgh opposed the motion.
It is thought Falkirk Council is the tenth council in Scotland to have removed its religious representatives’ voting powers. Six councils voted to do so in 2023, the most recent being East Lothian Council in December that year.
The NSS briefed all councillors prior to the meeting, saying voting powers for religious appointees are “undemocratic, unrepresentative and unjustified”.
“No one should be granted a privileged place in local democracy just because of their religion,” the NSS said.
Independent councillor Laura Murtagh, who brought the original motion asking councillors to bring forward a report examining the issue, said: “I am delighted that having brought forward this issue for examination by council, we have achieved a consensus that religious representatives continuing to have voting rights on council committees is neither appropriate nor necessary.
“While religious representatives will continue to have a voice on committee in line with legislative requirements, I am pleased that the principle of democratic accountability, fairness and equity with other external reps has been established.”
Most people (58%) in Falkirk have no religion, Christians in decline
The NSS highlighted that Scotland is now majority nonreligious. The 2022 Scottish Census found 51.1% of people in Scotland have no religion; a rapid increase from the 2011 census, in which the figure was 36.7%.
Only 20.4% of Scots belong to the Church of Scotland, while 13.3% are Catholic. Membership of other Christian denominations has also declined. In total, only 38.8% of Scots are Christian.
Falkirk is particularly nonreligious. The percentage of nonreligious people is above the national average, at 57.6%. Twenty-four per cent belong to the Church of Scotland, while only 11.7% are Catholic.
NSS: Decision is “best means of ensuring the council is equal, democratic and fair for everyone”
Following the meeting, NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: “We welcome the council’s decision, which is the best means of ensuring the council is equal, democratic and fair for everyone, whatever their religion or belief.
“This makes Falkirk the tenth council in Scotland to remove voting privileges from religious representatives. We hope all other councils follow suit – and that the Scottish Government reviews the outdated law requiring religious appointees on councils in the first place.
“If Scotland is a country where all have an equal chance to participate in decision making, it can’t give one select group a privileged role.”
Media coverage:
Falkirk Council removes education voting rights from religious reps (Falkirk Herald)