Agenda and minutes

[Note:  Ms Monica Wilson attended the meeting as an observer.  Dheemal Patel attended part of the meeting as a member of the Harrow Students’ Advisory Group].

RESOLVED:   To note that apologies for absence had been received from Mrs Mary Abbott, Councillor Nana Asante, Mr Mike Bishop, Mr Jagdish Dave, Ravi Mistry from the Harrow Students’ Advisory Group, Mrs Shruti Mistry, Councillor Asad Omar, Mrs Barbara Samuels and Dr Stephen Thompson.

RESOLVED:  That it be noted that Pat Stevens attended the meeting as a Reserve Member for the Church of England.

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee, Sub Committee, Panel or Forum;

(b)               all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

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

That the minutes of the meeting held on the 5 December 2007 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on the 5 December 2007 be deferred until printed in the Council Bound Minute Volume.

(i)                   It was noted that Councillor Nana Asante had sent information regarding the Taaleen Dialogues to members of the Standing Advisory Council for Religious Education (SACRE);

(ii)                 Councillor Mrs Lurline Champagnie explained that negotiations were continuing for a proposed inter-faith monument representing all faiths in the Borough to be positioned in a prominent place in London.  Councillor Yogesh Teli, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, the Conservative candidate for the forthcoming Mayor of London election, Boris Johnson and HRH Prince Charles had been involved in negotiations and it was hoped that the monument would be erected by 2012.  It was confirmed that it was not possible to find a suitable place for the monument in Harrow.  The Chairman expressed the view that many people would be disappointed that the monument would not be in Harrow as originally intended.  In response to questions, it was confirmed that the project was being pursued by Harrow Council in conjunction with Harrow Inter Faith Council.

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.

Dheepak Patel.

Dheemal Patel reported that following the launch of the Muslim Youth Forum, members of the Harrow Student Advisory Board had been interested in a proposal to set up a Harrow Youth Inter Faith Forum.  The Board were keen that the activities should involve young people from all faiths and with a variety of beliefs as it was thought that this would avoid competition and segregation between faiths and enable young people to learn from each others’ perspectives and traditions.  Members expressed their appreciation towards Dheemal and the Harrow Student Advisory Board for the way in which young people presented their ideas on current issues.

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.

Martha Besser.

The Chairman reported on the launch of the Baha’i materials held on 30 January 2008 which was felt by members to be an excellent opportunity to learn about the Baha’i faith.

RESOLVED:  That local Rastafarians and Zoroastrians set up faith packs for schools.

Pat Stevens.

Members received the printed copies of the revised Harrow Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.  It was agreed that it was a well-designed document. Rastafarian members expressed disappointment that their entry in the introduction to the document was short compared to the other faiths.  It was explained that it was the only text available from the Rastafarian community at the time the syllabus was printed. However, the electronic version of the syllabus could be updated.  Pat Stevens demonstrated the links between the agreed syllabus and the non-statutory scheme of work through an activity set out in the Baha’i unit involving materials from the recently launched pack.

RESOLVED:  That the non-statutory scheme of work be completed in time for schools to plan their religious education curriculum for the academic year 2008?09.

Councillor Anjana Patel.

RESOLVED:  That Fazana Aldridge and Pat Stevens meet with Councillor Mrs Anjana Patel as soon as possible to plan the SACRE Showcase.

Pat Stevens.

Representatives of the Zoroastrian faith produced information regarding Zoroastrian festivals.  Members felt that it was important to stress the advice for the next academic year that pupils should be encouraged to take no more than 2?3 days for religious observations that fell during school terms.

RESOLVED:  That the calendar of Religious Festivals 2008?2009 be an agenda item for the next meeting.

Alison Stowe.

The Vice-Chairman distributed a chart, which demonstrated the religious needs of pupils.  The chart had been produced following Working Party discussions involving Harrow’s faith communities and investigation of advice given by other local authorities.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the group continue drawing up advice for Headteachers on sensitive religious issues, including health and safety matters, ways of maintaining entitlement to the National Curriculum, and the use of names of key religious figures for people, animals and toys;

(2)  Fazana Aldridge supply guidelines from other authorities to support the work.

Martha Besser and Alison Stowe.

It was noted that ‘A Handbook for SACRE Members’, published by the National Association of SACREs (NASACRE), would replace the Harrow SACRE Members’ handbook published in 2004.

RESOLVED:  That copies of the handbook be ordered for current and new members of SACRE.

Martha Besser and Pat Stevens.

The Chairman explained that a bid was being made by Dr Nicola Madge of Brunel University to survey young people from the ages of 13 to 18 for their perspectives on areas such as personal religious identity, quality of life, expectations for the future, views on the impact of religion on their community and religious education in schools.  The London Borough of Hillingdon had invited Harrow to participate in a joint research project should Dr Madge’s bid be successful.  Members felt that the project would provide quality evidence about religion in Harrow and the effectiveness of religious education in schools.

RESOLVED:  That SACRE support the ‘Young People and Religion’ project, should the bid be successful.

Fazana Aldridge and Pat Stevens.

Fazana Aldridge reported that National Association of SACRE (NASACRE) awarded up to £5000 annually to projects that encouraged effective inter-faith dialogue between young people. Members considered a proposal drafted by Fazana Aldridge and Pat Stevens to set up a Harrow Youth Inter Faith Forum. Members felt that it was important that clear links should be established between the Harrow Youth Inter?Faith Forum and:

·                     SACRE;

·                     Harrow Inter?Faith Council;

·                     Harrow Student Advisory Group;

·                     Harrow Council for Racial Equality;

·                     the Local Authority Community Cohesion Group;

·                     Harrow Hate Crime Forum;

·                     faith community groups and other allied organisations.

RESOLVED:  That (1) a Working Party be set up consisting of Fazana Aldridge, Martha Besser, Niru Desai, Phiroza Gan-Kotwal, Mary Hale, Nancy Parsons, Dheemal Patel and Pat Stevens to develop the bid;

(2)  the bid be submitted to NASACRE by 31 March 2008.

(If any)

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no determinations for discussion at the meeting.

It was noted that Councillor Nana Asante had sent members information about a film - ‘The Imam and the Pastor’ - which was to be shown on the 22 March 2008 at Harrow Baptist Church as part of the ‘Love Harrow’ scheme;

Notice was also provided regarding the NASACRE Annual General Meeting (AGM), which was to be held on Thursday 8 May 2008 from 10.30 am to 3.30 pm at Hamilton House, London.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the above be noted;

(2)  the Chairman or the Vice-Chairman and Phiroza Gan-Kotwal attend the NASACRE AGM on the 8 May 2008.

Mary Hale reported that Harrow Inter-Faith Council was holding its AGM at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 9 April 2008 in the Members’ Lounge, Harrow Civic Centre. All SACRE members were invited.  She explained that Harrow Inter?Faith Council was supporting the Religious Education and Philosophy conference for Sixth Form students which was to be held at Park High School in the summer of 2008.  Neville Ransley stated that sixth-form colleges in Harrow would appreciate being included in the event.  Mary Hale also reported that a celebration of faiths would be arranged in October 2006 to celebrate the 25^th Anniversary of Harrow Inter?Faith Council.

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.

It was noted that programmes were being arranged for Holi and Naw Ruz on 21 March 2008 and for Baisakhi on 5 April 2008.  Enquiries regarding these programmes were to be directed to Stephen Porter at Harrow Council.  Good Friday and Easter Sunday were to be celebrated by Christians on 21 and 23 March 2008.

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.

Which cannot otherwise be dealt with.

It was suggested by members that SACRE should resume its programme of visits to local places of worship, start its meetings with a pause for reflection and it was suggested that a list of members’ e?mail addresses ought to be produced.

RESOLVED:  That Pat Stevens be requested to investigate the above.

To note that the next meeting would be held on the 3 June 2008.

RESOLVED:  To note that the next meeting would be held on the 3 June 2008.