THE Mayor of Enfield has been criticised for her "anti-religious" decision to replace the pre-council meeting prayer with a poem.

Traditionally, a religious leader has been invited to lead a prayer before each three-hour full council meeting.

But new Mayor of Enfield, Jayne Buckland, has dropped this convention and invited poets to read their work instead.

Those who wish to pray will still be able to do so in the mayor's parlour before the meeting begins.

Councillor Jon Kaye (Con), a member of religious education committee Enfield Sacre, said: "The decision to abolish the prayer before a council meeting is ill-judged.

"This anti-religious move, at a time when we have an increasingly diverse borough with a variety of religious minorities, sends out the wrong signal.

"The prayer enables councillors to not only reflect on what is said, but to think about how we conduct ourselves during the subsequent three-hour meetings.

"This is a retrograde step."

Council leader Doug Taylor defended the mayor's decision, stating the poems would "support and encourage the arts".

Cllr Taylor said: "Prior to the formal business of the council meeting, the mayor has sole discretion to decide how best to reflect upon matters spiritual and temporal.

"Prayers for those who wish to have a few moments of quiet reflection will be held in the mayor's parlour before council meetings.

"The mayor has invited poets to read out a short poetry item in the council chamber before full council meetings - something that celebrates our borough and supports and encourages the arts.

"I am surprised that Cllr Kaye is unable to appreciate this."

Cllr Buckland declined to comment when contacted by the Enfield Independent.