THE tradition of prayers before council meetings should be kept when the new unitary authority for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole comes into force next year, a councillor is to urge.

Cllr Phil Stanley-Watts said he feared the traditional element of the existing councils was being “wiped away” and will call for an assurance that the traditional meeting-starting prayers are retained.

All three of the existing councils begin their monthly meetings with a prayer but the tradition has not been carried on to meetings of the shadow authority, which manages the transition work ahead of the formation of the new conurbation council in April.

Bournemouth councillor Phil Stanley-Watts is to ask the shadow authority at its meeting to keep the tradition when the new council comes into force next year.

“There are some councillors that wouldn’t support it but it’s part of the wellbeing of members,” he said.

“Quite a few of us, and residents, feel we should carry on with the prayers and I want reassurance from the shadow authority that they will be continued after local government reorganisation.”

He said that if he didn’t receive an adequate response at Wednesday’s meeting then he would put forward a formal motion for the issue to be discussed at the following shadow authority meeting.