CAMPAIGNERS have called on Wee County councillors to scrap voting rights for non-elected church representatives.

The call came from the Humanist Society Scotland, which branded voting rights for religious representatives undemocratic.

The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 requires councils to appoint religious representatives to committees considering education matters.

However, the Scottish Government made clear in 2019 that each local authority could decide whether religious representatives got to vote or not, following controversy surrounding the closure of a school in Perth and Kinross.

Fraser Sutherland, chief executive of Humanist Society Scotland, said: “Given Scotland’s proportional voting system for councils, new and returning councillors in Clackmannanshire will know that every decision made will involve negotiations and close votes.

“What they won’t be considering is that any decisions they may take on education can be overturned on the say-so of unelected representatives from Scotland’s churches and religious institutions.”

In 2019, Blairingone Primary School in Perth and Kinross was axed, despite councillors being 7-6 in favour of saving the rural school, which had six pupils.

Two church representatives swung the vote in favour of the recommendation to close the school, however.

The local authority then became the first in Scotland to withdraw voting rights of church representatives sitting on education committees.

Mr Sutherland added: “Clackmannanshire councillors need to take action now so that only those voted in democratically will have a say on local schooling.

“We urge Clackmannanshire council to bring forward a motion or new rules of engagement for non-elected church representatives to remove their voting rights.”

The Wee County's recently elected councillors have varying opinions on the matter.

Cllr Bryan Quinn, Greens, said he agreed with the society.

He added: “However, I am in favour of making it easier for all relevant groups, including churches, to participate and have a voice in the council.

“We can do this by ensuring relevant organisations are invited to council meetings to give input.

“I would also like to see citizens assemblies introduced so that everyone is able to give a more meaningful input to the council.”

On the other hand, Cllr Darren Lee, Conservatives, explained that religious leaders are “valuable pillars of our community”, offering much to schools.

He said: “Wisdom, guidance, support and resources to help our children deal with the many issues that affect them and their community.

“In my experience, religious reps challenge the council and help keep education and elected members accountable.

“I support religious reps being involved in our council processes, I certainly wouldn’t seek to diminish their role in matters they are so deeply invested in.”

According to figures from the council's Mainstreaming Equality and Diversity in Clackmannanshire 2017-2021 document, 43.5 per cent of the Wee County population is non-religious.

The second largest group, 34.5 per cent, are in the Church of Scotland while 9.4 per cent were Roman Catholic; five per cent are other Christian and 0.6 per cent are Muslim.

The SNP administration intends to seek the views of the entire school community on the matter.

Cllr Graham Lindsay, education spokesperson, said: “In the pursuit of a fairer, more equal society that better reflects life in 2022, we want to ensure all people, irrespective of their background, ethnicity, age, religion, gender, ability and sexual orientation are able to effectively and meaningfully engage in local issues that affect their lives.

“We have a strong track record in engaging in relation to education – in 2019, we adopted the Standards for Engagement and Participation (Children & Young People), developed by the Youth Council, into council policy and have also held annual discussions with them on the council budget.

“We want to continue this approach with other groups to ensure all voices are heard.

“To ensure that we continue to engage effectively and meaningfully, it is our intention to seek the views of the entire school community to determine the best way to do this moving forward.”

A Labour councillor has been contacted for an opinion.