Crowborough, England - A Hugely controversial bid to stop Scientologists from helping at council- organised events in Crowborough was rejected on Tuesday.
Town councillors threw out the suggestion by Cllr Mike Murphy that the activities of the town's Scientologists should be investigated.
In a meeting at which eight Scientologists turned up to defend their beliefs, the finance and general purposes committee concluded that it was not the council's place to exclude any member of the community.
Some 350-plus Scientologists live at Walsh Manor, off Walshes Road, and they traditionally man the road closure signs at the town's annual Christmas fair.
But, as the Kent and Sussex Courier reported in November, Cllr Murphy wanted the council to stop accepting their help until after "a full investigation" had been carried out.
Neither Cllr Murphy nor the motion's seconder, Cllr Paul Scott, were present at Tuesday's extraordinary meeting of the committee, and the remaining members took the opportunity to distance themselves from the contentious issue.
Cllr Julian Salmon said: "I'm agnostic so I don't follow any religion. I don't see it in our remit to cut people out because of their beliefs."
Cllr Peter Bucklitsch said: "As a council we have a duty to provide certain services to the whole community - not just those bits we like.
"Unless there are any legal grounds for action or discrimination, we are duty bound to act in an inclusive manner and not exclude those sections of the community we may disagree with for reasons of lifestyle or faith."
Speaking on behalf of the Scientologists, 78-year-old Ken Eckersley, from Sharpthorne, told councillors at the start of the meeting: "I'm puzzled and perhaps it will emerge as to why we have this motion tonight because I find it strange."
After the committee had voted to reject the motion, fellow Scientologist Maj Peter Wakley told the Kent and Sussex Courier: "If you want to get things done you need to accept all the help you can get."
The issue is likely to be raised again at the next full council meeting in March.