Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chairman for the calendar year 2016.

The Committee considered making an appointment of a Chairman of the SACRE. It noted that the future of the SACRE was an item later on the agenda, it therefore agreed to appoint a Chairman for this meeting only.

Resolved:

That Councillor Jackson be appointed Chairman for the meeting.

To consider the appointment of a Vice-Chairman for the calendar year 2016

The Committee considered the appointment of a Vice-Chairman. It considered that given the item on the future of the SACRE later on the agenda, that it would be wise to defer further consideration of this until further consideration had been given to this issue.

Resolved:

Not to appoint a Vice-Chairman at this meeting.  

To welcome members to the meeting and receive any apologies.

The Chairman lead introductions from

Apologies were received from Councillors Cross and Mrs Henderson MBE , and from Dr Vasudev, Hindu Community representative.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 13^th February 2014 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the last meeting held on the 13^th February be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To receive a presentation on the work of the RE Network and support offered to schools by the Local Authority.

The Committee received a presentation from Dave Brennand on the work of the RE Network and other support offered to schools. Dave explained that it had been anticipated that the presentation would be given by Rebecca Binns from Highfield Humanities College as a lead member of the RE support network.

The RE Network included representatives of 13 primary schools, 3 secondary schools and 2 special schools across Blackpool and met termly with an aim of consistent resources and assessment for religious education.

It was suggested that it would be beneficial for the RE Network to be involved in the forthcoming review of the agreed syllabus.

Resolved:

To note the presentation.

To receive a presentation on the Prevent Agenda against Radicalisation

The Committee received a presentation on the Prevent agenda against radicalisation. Mr Brennand outlined the urgency of the agenda and reminded members that it was a key part of safeguarding.

Councillor Blackburn explained that the he had an important role as part of the Local Government Association’s Safer Stronger Communities thread. He highlighted his view that there was good and bad practice within schools and that it was essential that this duty was managed properly. He reminded members that this duty applied to all forms of extremism including white supremacist and anti-immigrant views.

Resolved:

To note the presentation on the Prevent agenda.

To agree futher actions on the Blackpool SACRE Annual Report.

The Committee considered the draft annual report. It agreed that the format of the report was correct and that this would provide a good way of promoting the work of the SACRE.

Resolved:

1.      To agree the format of the annual report.

2.      To ask the clerk to complete the annual report in advance of the next meeting.

To consider the NASACRE conference 2016 and whether to send a delegate.

The Committee considered the NASACRE national conference which was taking place on the 17^th May 2016 in Westminister.

It agreed that it would be beneficial to send a representative.

Resolved:

1.      To note the date of the NASACRE conference.

2.      To agree that Helen Sage be the SACRE’s representative at the NASACRE conference.

To consider the future of the SACRE and discuss future options for this Committee.

The SACRE held a discussion on its future, the Committee considered the possibility of a merger with the Lancashire SACRE.

The Committee considered that it would be beneficial if possible to continue with having a standalone Committee for Blackpool but also that

The SACRE agreed also to consider further whether the most suitable agreed syllabus continued to be the Lancashire syllabus and to ensure local faith groups were involved in the selection of the syllabus.

Resolved:

1.      To agree to continue with a Blackpool SACRE at least in the interim period.

2.      To further investigate the possibility of a merger with Lancashire SACRE.