Subject: Gaza and Council Financial Exposure

Date of meeting: 13 October 2025

Proposer: Councillor Taylor

Seconder: Councillor McGregor

Ward(s) affected: All

Notice of Motion

Labour Group Amendment

1) The welcome news that a peace plan has been agreed in the Middle East ensuring the release of all remaining hostages and for life-saving aid to reach Gaza.

2) The widespread view, including of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS)¹ on 31/08/25 and a UN Independent Commission² on 16/09/25, that the Israeli Government has been committing genocide in Gaza;

3) That recent legal analysis has raised concerns that third-party states, including the UK, must ensure their activities do not contribute to violations of international law;

4) That this analysis has further suggested these responsibilities apply to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and other local government activities under domestic law;³

5) The recent letter from our Council Leader to the Chair of the ESCC Pension Committee requesting an update further to report A/HRC/37/39 of the UN Human Rights Council and East Sussex Pension Fund (ESPF) exposure;

This counciltherefore resolves to:

1) Request officers to bring a report to ~~the~~ ~~Audit, Standards and General Purposes Committee~~ Cabinet detailing ~~the~~ any exposure of ESPF, of our treasury management and of our freehold landholdings to ‘involved companies³ ’;

2) Request the Leader of the Council to write to the Rt Hon Steve Reed, Secretary of State at MHCLG, informing him of the Council’s concerns and requesting that he support the action of divesting LGPS investments from ‘involved companies’.

3) Notify other local authorities who may have exposure via the East Sussex Pension Fund of the letter from the Leader of the Council and request that they seek the same information

Recommendations to read if carried:

This Council notes:

1) The welcome news that a peace plan has been agreed in the Middle East ensuring the release of all remaining hostages and for life-saving aid to reach Gaza.

2) The widespread view, including of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS)¹ on 31/08/25 and a UN Independent Commission² on 16/09/25, that the Israeli Government has been committing genocide in Gaza;

3) That recent legal analysis has raised concerns that third-party states, including the UK, must ensure their activities do not contribute to violations of international law;

4) That this analysis has further suggested these responsibilities apply to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and other local government activities under domestic law;³

This counciltherefore resolves to:

1) Request officers to bring a report to Cabinet detailing any exposure of ESPF, of our treasury management and of our freehold landholdings to ‘involved companies³ ’;

2) Notify other local authorities who may have exposure via the East Sussex Pension Fund of the letter from the Leader of the Council and request that they seek the same information