Agenda item - Gaza and Council Financial Exposure

Notice of Motion

This Council noted:

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 council therefore resolved 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

46b.1 The Notice of Motion as listed in the agenda was proposed by Councillor Sykes on behalf of the Green Group and formally seconded by Councillor Goldsmith.

46b.2 Councillor Taylor moved an amendment on behalf of the Labour Group which was formally seconded by Councillor McGregor.

46b.3 Councillors Lyons, Meadows and Goldsmith spoke on the matter

46b.4 Councillor Sykes responded to the debate and accepted the amendment by the Labour Group.

46b.5 Councillors called for a recorded vote on the motion which was put to the vote and carried.

46b.6 The mayor put the motion as amended to the vote.

46b.7 The Mayor confirmed that the motion as amended had been carried by a vote of 36 in favour, 5 against, with no abstentions

RESOLVED:

This Council noted:

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 council therefore resolved 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.