Council removes Gaza motion from agenda after mayor rules it was not relevant to powers and duties

Gedling Borough Council’s mayor has removed a motion on Gaza from the full council agenda, arguing that it is beyond the council’s remit to discuss foreign affairs.

The motion had been proposed by two independent councillors who left Labour over its stance on the war in Gaza.

But a statement on the council’s website said: “Motion 1 – this motion has been removed from the agenda as the Mayor has ruled that it does not meet section 7.12e of section 4 of the council’s constitution - every motion shall be relevant to some matter in relation to which the council has powers or duties or which affects the borough.”

Local news outlet Gedling Eye reported Labour mayor Julie Najuk saying the motion was not permitted as the council “does not have national foreign policy powers, duties or responsibilities”.

She said: “At November’s meeting of full council I proposed and led a minute’s silence, which was observed by all Gedling borough councillors, for all the innocent lives lost as a result of the horrifying situation in the Middle East, as well as in other atrocities taking place around the world.

“My thoughts are with all those affected by the horrific ongoing situation in Gaza, Israel & the Middle East. I continue to pray for a sustainable ceasefire.

“The motion in question is not permitted by the council’s constitution because the council does not have national foreign policy powers, duties or responsibilities.”

Cllr Najuk did not respond to a request for comment.

Gedling Eye reported that the two councillors who proposed the motion had claimed it had been approved for the agenda by the chief executive and monitoring officer.

It said the motion would have referred to “recognising the distress being caused” to residents in Gedling by the bombing of Gaza and called for the freeing of hostages.

Mark Smulian