Ian Munro

Leisure Development Manager

Wyre Borough Council

Civic Centre

Breck Road

Poulton-le-Fylde

Lancashire FY6 7PU

January 21, 2008

Many thanks for your reply of 4^th January 2008 regarding my complaint.

Unfortunately your response still fails to address our specific concerns.

You will recall that we requested WBC to place in the open the terms of its contract with the YMCA, and in particular any terms requiring it to comply at least in relation to this contract with equal opportunities in employment, and unconditional service provision.

We have every confidence that WBC is mindful of its equality responsibilities but assurances that contractually the YMCA has to comply with the Equality & Diversity strategy for Wyre are somewhat nebulous when the ‘Valuing Diversity … Equality Strategy and Action Plan 2007 – 2008’ only says –

WBC’s decision to appoint the YMCA group runs contrary to the ‘Vision’ declared in that same action plan:

"to protect and promote equal, real freedom and real opportunity so that everyone can live in the ways they value and would choose and so that everyone can flourish. We recognise people’s different needs, situations and goals and aim to remove the barriers that limit what people can do and can be".

There are clearly many residents of Wyre for whom, living in a way they value and choose, would not include supporting a religious institution. Far from ‘removing barriers’ WBC have, in effect, erected one by actively (or passively) discouraging the participation of those members of the community who are not religious.

One simple way of demonstrating the YMCA’s commitment to WBC’s Equality & Diversity Strategy would be to answer (specifically) the questions we have already asked, but which have not been addressed:

You are possibly aware that our open letter to you (also dated 4^th January) generated articles in The Blackpool Gazette and The Garstang Courier newspapers.

What you may not know is that The Garstang Courier posed the question ‘Do you think the YMCA should be allowed to run Wyre swimming pools’ in their ‘Your Shout’ feature; (a reader’s on-line weekly vote).

The result of that vote (published on p.7 of The Garstang Courier, 16^th Jan.) was "Yes": 55% … "No": 44%.

So, at least, 44% of The Garstang Courier’s readership, and therefore the potential users of the WBC owned Leisure Centre at Garstang [but now "Garstang YMCA" (how the phone is answered when you call), are not in favour of this development; and, given that the response in Garstang so closely mirrors national averages, there is every reason to suspect that the same level of dissatisfaction is consistent across the whole of Wyre.

In view of the overwhelming public interest of the points made above, and that the YMCA is being paid out of funds paid for by Council tax payers, of all faiths and none, and all sexualities, we continue to regard this correspondence as open.

Ian Abbott

(Chair) Lancashire Secular Humanists

Ian Munro

Leisure Development Manager

Wyre Borough Council

Civic Centre

Breck Road

Poulton-le-Fylde

Lancashire FY6 7PU

January 2, 2008

Many thanks for your reply of 11 December 2007 regarding my complaint.

Unfortunately your response fails to address the underlying concerns of many Humanists such as me which is (in a nut-shell): If the provider of any public facility has an overtly religious ethos one obvious, unavoidable consequence of removing the control of the facility from the local authority, paid for by all for the equal benefit of all, will be to discourage (whether actively or passively) other members of the community from using it. This is unfair, given that it is a ‘publicly funded’ facility.

Another likely result will be the disadvantage to non-Christians, and even potentially to some Christians who do not follow the increasingly orthodox perspectives of some in leading positions in Christianity, for example on matters of homosexuality.

It is highly relevant here to dispel any misunderstandings about the extent to which this is a Christian country. While 72% of the English population identified themselves as Christian in the 2001 Census, less than 7% actually attend church on an average Sunday. Given this, it is unsurprising that only around half of the population regard themselves as religious. And among the young, who will form the majority of the potential – if not actual – users of these facilities, 60% (by one large Christian survey) and 66% (by another, large independent one) of secondary school age pupils do not define themselves as religious.

Exemptions from legislation requiring employment equality on all other employers are extended (almost uniquely) on religious grounds and to religious organisations. There are also religious exemptions in the Equality Act, which deals with the provision of services. Some, perhaps most, Christian organisations consider that Christianity is the engine which motivates their staff and are not willing to employ non-Christians. Others have been unwilling to dispense services to those of whom they disapproved, such as practising homosexuals, who decline to participate in some religious activity, such as prayer.

We therefore formally request you to place in the open the terms of your contract with the YMCA, and in particular any terms requiring it to comply at least in relation to this contract with equal opportunities in employment, and unconditional service provision.

How many LGBT, Atheists or non-Christian employees are in any managerial posts?

What safeguards have been put in place to ensure that no proselytising whatsoever occurs, and how is that monitored?

To the extent that the contract does not currently include all of these provisions, please indicate whether or not you are prepared to impose them now.

I have already outlined why the ethical views of Humanists such as myself would prevent them from supporting any organisation whose declared agenda is to realise a "vision is of an inclusive Christian movement, transforming communities …" and I have no doubt whatsoever that there must be many non-Christian members of the community who would also be deterred from joining the gyms once they realise they would be (however tacitly) supporting the YMCA in that endeavour. . .

WBC is not allowed to disadvantage its employees based on their age, gender, gender identity, sexuality, religious views etc but an institution WBC has awarded a contract to, for supplying a public facility to the whole community, can.

What assurances have WBC demanded of the YMCA that employee’s who do not share their views on religion, or whose lifestyle (acceptable in every other sphere of life) does not conform to the YMCA’s Christian ethos, will not be prevented from seeking employment or gaining promotion based on qualifications, ability and experience alone?

In view of the overwhelming public interest of the points made above, and that the YMCA is to be paid out of funds paid for by Council tax payers, of all faiths and none, and all sexualities, we are regarding this correspondence as open.

Ian Abbott

(Chair) Lancashire Secular Humanists

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