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 …