A RESIDENT from Stroud is concerned about a “new regime” of being “forced” to stand while an address is read out opening district council meetings.

Helen Saunders, who attends SDC meetings infrequently, argues that the words read out sound like a prayer and there is no opportunity to leave the room while the address is given.

“Under the new regime members are asked to stand while the chairman of the council Norman Kay walks in wearing his chains, and are still standing when the prayer is read out,” she said.

“Clever. This means there is no opportunity to leave the room.

“Previously I have stood outside the door with a small group of people.”

Cllr Kay, (Nailsworth, Green) told the SNJ that nobody at the council meeting apart from Helen had a problem with the words read.

“If a prayer means submission to some kind of deity it’s not a prayer,” he said.

A Stroud District Council spokesman also reiterated that the words are not a prayer, they are an exhortation.

An exhortation is an address or communication emphatically urging someone to do something.

The words read at the start of meetings say: “May we find wisdom to carry out our duties, humanity to listen to all, the courage to do what is right and the generosity to treat each other with respect."