The Local Government (Religious etc. Observances) Act 2015

c. secularism.org uk

This Act came into force on 26th May. The Act is a response to the High Court decision of 2012 which found that the saying of prayers was not lawful under sec. 111 of the Local Government Act 1972 and that there was no statutory power permitting the practice to continue. The Localism Act 2011 gave councils with the General Power of Competence the  freedom to continue to have prayers. The Secretary of State, Eric Pickles sought to correct what he saw as an anomaly. This Act gives discretionary powers to bodies such as parish councils to include prayers on their agenda. 

The full briefing L03-15 The Local Government (Religious etc. Observances) Act 2015 is in the Members Area of the NALC website. All members have a username and password to access the NALC Members Area, if you have forgotten them please send an email to BALC christinelalley@ccberks.org.uk