Meetings of council to be arranged around prayer
Move to attract more councillors
It is sad that I have to write this report, most of you around the country are probably used to this by now, but I never thought I would see the day it happened in Barnsley!
Council meetings will be arranged to avoid clashes with the times when people need to pray.
The move is part of a drive to attract more people from ethnic and faith groups to stand as councillors reported the Barnsley Chronicle today. They reported that considering cultural and religious requirements when organising the council diary would help to make the council more diverse. A report put to senior councillors on Wednesday states: “where practicable and on the advice on the equalities and diversity officer, meetings should not be scheduled to take place at those hours of the day which have cultural or religious significance for the different faith communities living in the borough” It also recommended that when the actual dates of the meetings clashed with days of cultural or religious significance they should be altered, when possible. These have been approved in the first instance and will now need to go through another process and then to the full council for final approval. After the meeting, Councillor Mike Stokes (who chaired the steering group for the IMCB project) said “the new way of working is aimed at recognising cultural differences.” He added “it is about saying instead of having a meeting at this particular time why can’t we have it at some other time.” “It’s not a case of changing the system dramatically it’s about trying to be sensible and aware of peoples needs and if we can meet them then that’s wonderful.”
I will make this a sticky in the Around Barnsley section with an address to write to.
4 comments:
“the new way of working is aimed at recognising cultural differences.”
No it isn't, it's a desperate attempt to win the ethnic vote to compensate for the fact that white voters are switching to the BNP.
This is actually good news, a blessing in disguise.
Thanks Phil
I’m sure that most people in Barnsley will find it offensive and see through the madness of the comments made. Tensions are really high at the moment especially with the new expectants from Bulgaria and Romania; although we don’t really have a Muslim problem we have our share of Kosovo refugees and Eastern Europeans. I think the Labour clowns will be in for a real shock this May. However, I bet some of the old town folk would be turning in their graves if they could see what Barnsley’s Labour Councillors have become.
New Labour are really running scared now, and will do anything to win back even a small portion of the lost Asian votes.
They are grasping at straws!
I have a feeling the Guardian is going to be a blank issue, and the BBC silent, the day after the upcoming council elections.
"The people have lost faith in the government; change the people"
Only even they can't change the people fast enough.
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