A COUNCILLOR has proposed that the new merged Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) council drops the tradition of prayers at the start of meetings in a bid to make it more “inclusive”.

All three of the existing authorities have prayers before each full meeting of the council but Cllr Simon Bull said that this could put some people off from becoming a councillor.

During a discussion about the planned constitution for the new authority at Monday’s BCP shadow authority scrutiny committee, Cllr Bull said that the tradition was “a barrier to inclusion”.

He said that there was nothing to stop councillors from praying prior to a meeting on their own but that it could put off people who do not wish to take part.

“Prayers are a very divisive tradition and it’s one which is a barrier to inclusion for many people,” he said.

“If people want to do it – to prepare themselves before a meeting – then they can do it themselves before a meeting.”

In October, fellow Bournemouth councillor Phil Stanley-Watts called for the tradition to be retained by the new council, saying that it was “part of the wellbeing” of members.