Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:  To note that apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Ms Nana Asante, Mrs N Desai, Dr V Kapashi,  Mr P O’Dwyer and Mrs A Stowe.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no Reserve Members in attendance at this meeting.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interests made by Members in relation to the business transacted at this meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2006 be taken as read and signed as a correct record subject to the following amendment:

Minute 42 – Collective Worship

Replace “National Teacher Research Conference” with “Farmington Institute”.

Councillor Nana Asante, Councillor Mrs Lurline Champagnie and Pat Stevens.

The Chairman, Councillor Mrs Lurline Champagnie, explained that pressure of work had prevented a meeting between Councillor Ms Nana Asante, Pat Stevens and herself to discuss the suggested open day.

RESOLVED:  That the meeting take place and report its ideas to the next SACRE.

Paddy O’Dwyer, Pat Stevens.

Pat Stevens confirmed that she and Patrick O’Dwyer were planning an event to include an overview of Harrow’s faiths and philosophies. This was to include photographs and statistical material, information about Harrow SACRE, samples of Harrow Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education, sample primary and secondary lessons for Councillors led by SACRE teacher members and a question and answer session. Don Liversedge suggested that the history of Harrow SACRE be included, with details about Humanist involvement.  This was agreed.

RESOLVED:  That the Chairman suggest a date for the showcase, once the meeting dates for the Municipal Year 2007?2008 were known. 

All.

There was a wide-ranging discussion of drafts produced by Mike Bishop and Pat Stevens of amendments to the SACRE constitution, a nomination form and possible sources of nomination. 

RESOLVED:  That (1)the updated constitution, nomination form and list of nominating groups be circulated with the minutes of the meeting;

(2)  nomination of all members be ratified at the beginning of each Municipal Year, current members receive a nomination form to be signed by their sponsoring body in order to confirm their nomination, and nomination of new members be sought through the agreed nominating groups;

(3)  advice be sought on an appropriate quorum for SACRE, as one representative from the large Group One (representing Christian and other religious denominations reflecting the principal traditions of the area) was felt to be inadequate;

(4)  two pupils from the Youth Parliament of Harrow be invited to attend meetings of SACRE as non-voting members, to represent the views of pupils of their experiences of religious education and collective worship;

(5)  a working party consisting of Mike Bishop, Shruti Mistry, Pat Stevens and Stephen Thompson meet to discuss a strategy for youth involvement in SACRE and report to the next meeting.

Pat Stevens, Rev Pothen, Mrs Desai.

Pat Stevens reported that the faith contributions for the introduction to the agreed syllabus would be complete in the next few days.  The agreed syllabus would be sent for final design, preparation for the Harrow website and printing before the end of March.  The accompanying non?statutory units of work would be completed during the Summer Term 2007.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the revised Harrow agreed syllabus for Religious Education be submitted to the Print Factory for final website design and printing by 30 March 2007;

(2)  the website design costs and the printing costs be taken from the SACRE budget 2007?08.

Councillor Mrs Lurline Champagnie.

The Chairman reported that Harrow Council would not be able to fund future resource packs from faith communities due to budget cuts.  It was reiterated, however, that the rolling programme of provision of resource packs from each faith included for study in the Harrow Agreed syllabus should continue.  Approximate costs of the Baha’i packs were £120 for the secondary pack and £90 for the primary pack.

RESOLVED:  That SACRE seek sources of funding for the Baha’i and future packs, by inviting donations or match funding from the sponsoring faiths and possibly asking schools to make a contribution to the costs.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no determinations to report.

A number of events were discussed, including the Eid-ul-Adha on 6January 2007, the Harrow Inter Faith Council Prayers for Peace at Harrow Central Mosque on 25 January 2007 and the Youth Conference, sponsored by Harrow Inter Faith Council with a grant from the Faith Communities Capacity Building Fund on 15 February 2007.

Information was given about an occasion of Syrian Vespers, and the Hatch End High School International Evening on Friday 23 March 2007, entitled ‘Unity in Diversity’, which would include religious drama and refreshments from the various cultures represented in the school.

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.

Next meeting scheduled for the 5 June 2007.  Venue to be confirmed.

Meeting dates for the new Municipal Year would be circulated as soon as they were known.  The legal situation with regard to the holding of meetings in religious venues that were outside the Borough was being investigated by Harrow Council.

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.