Agenda item

To consider the report which outlines the recommendations of the sub-group arising from the discussion with representatives of petitioners, following the submission of a petition “Rotherham’s Commitment to a Permanent Ceasefire and To Promote Peace in Palestine and in the Region” (henceforth referred to as “the Petition”) to the Council meeting held on 28 February 2024.

The Chair invited Councillor Yasseen to introduce the report who provided the relevant context and background. Councillor Yasseen advised that during the meeting of Full Council on 28 February 2024, it was agreed that OSMB would be asked to consider the requests set out in the petition. It was advised that the development of the OSMB Sub-Group ensured the integrity and detailed consideration of each recommendation listed within the petition and created a space for the Council to work with lead petitioners and foster transparent discussions.

Councillor Yasseen acknowledged the hard work and contributions of the lead petitioners and residents in supporting the petition. Thanks were put on record to the Chair of OSMB at the relevant point in time, former Councillor Maggie Clark, Former Councillor Wendy Cooksey, Councillor Baker-Rogers and Councillor Yasseen. It was acknowledged that everyone involved in the OSMB Sub- Group attended several meetings to reach the outcomes detailed within the report and there had been a focus on ensuring that the outcomes would be deliverable.

Councillor Yasseen felt that the petition was linked to history and presenting the petition reaffirmed Councillors commitment to be morally accountable. It was advised that over 4,000 residents signed the ceasefire petition, to request that Councillors as local representatives would respond to the atrocities in Palestine. Councillor Yasseen stated that over 40,000 people had died, innocent Palestinians had been murdered, babies had been born into war and deprived of life and it was a place where the dying were denied dignity and comfort. Councillor Yasseen felt that the role of Councillors was to protect and represent all, regardless of nationality, ensuring a moral obligation to speak out against injustice and advocate for peace for all residents in the borough. It was advised that the petition would not end at this meeting and the report would be a living document which would reflect the ongoing court rulings. An example was provided of a court ruling from the International Court of Justice, which related to a request set out within the petition regarding illegal settlements.

The Chair thanked Councillor Yasseen for presenting the report and agreed that this was a very serious on-going issue in Palestine. The Chair advised that he understood the frustrations of the residents in Rotherham seeing their families suffering. The Chair advised that the petition would go through the relevant governance process and the Chair would write to the Leader to request that the recommendations be expediated for consideration by Cabinet as soon as possible.

The Chair asked members if they had any questions or comments on the report and the following was discussed and noted:

Councillor Bacon queried recommendation 5, paragraph 1, which was a request to fly the Palestinian flag. Councillor Bacon advised that the reason provided for this recommendation in the report was for a gesture of solidarity for those in Gaza and the wider region who were affected by the conflict and to support peace. Councillor Bacon asked whether any other communities had been consulted on this recommendation, such as the Jewish community and what the reason was for choosing this flag, instead of a neutral flag. Councillor Bacon felt this could potentially inflame tensions and that Members should be mindful of Jewish visitors who may have families among some of the hostages.

Councillor Yasseen advised that the petition which had received the most signatures in the history of any petition presented to the Council, was signed by Rotherham residents and the request was a direct request from over 4,000 Rotherham residents. Councillor Yasseen stated that she could not state the backgrounds of the individuals and could not make assumptions of who signed the petition, but she was aware of the diversity of the community. Councillor Yasseen felt that Rotherham had a long history of responding to awful atrocities around the world, an example was provided of the Christchurch attacks in New Zealand, where the Leader, Chief Executive and Cabinet led a minute’s silence for the attacks. A further example was provided of the Council flying the Ukrainian flag, to represent the Councils solidarity for peace in Ukraine and the atrocities committed in Ukraine. Councillor Yasseen felt that the petitions aim was for peace and to show solidarity for a ceasefire for the Palestinian people, therefore there was no neutrality in the petition, which aimed to ensure a parity approach. Councillor Yasseen referred to the Equality Duty and said that she felt that the Council could not only respond to certain atrocities and was required to show parity to all communities. Councillor Yasseen advised that she felt that residents had to develop the petition and put pressure on the Council to deliver on its equality duty, relating to the parity of treatment to represent Israel after the October atrocities and to the Palestinians situation, which was widely understood nationally and internationally and this was the reason why the request detailed in the petition was to fly the Palestinian flag and not a neutral flag.

Councillor Bacon advised that in relation to his line of questioning he was focusing solely on the report presented to OSMB and not the petition itself. Councillor Bacon advised that the recommendation within the report stated that it was a gesture of solidarity to those in Gaza and the wider region and he felt that the comments made in the meeting indicated that the request in question was solely for the Palestinian people and not the wider region.

Councillor Yasseen responded that it was right to show parity and the Council had raised other countries flags previously, including the other side of the agenda’s flag and this aligned with the strong culture in Rotherham. An example was provided of Rotherham Council fighting against Apartheid in the nineteen eighties, supporting South Africa and the wider region. Councillor Yasseen advised that the wording was agreed with the petitioners and all members of OSMB were invited to join the Sub-Group.

The Chair advised that most people living in the Gaza Strip were Palestinian people, therefore it was clear why the Palestinian flag had been chosen for this request.

Councillor Bacon queried recommendation 2, paragraph 2, which noted that the Council no longer had active twinning arrangements, and it was not recommended that these recommence. Councillor Bacon queried whether this recommendation related to twinning in general or whether it related specifically to Israel.

Councillor Yasseen stated that the Council did not currently have any twinning arrangements in place but did have a long history and culture of twinning.

Councillor Yasseen said that she was informed during the OSMB Sub-Group meeting that twinning was no longer a viable option due to financial implications and her understanding from the debate that took place, was that twinning would foster stronger relationships and related to the broader symbolic gesture of stronger relationships and representing the communities that lived in Rotherham.

Councillor Bacon queried again whether the recommendation in the report which stated that twinning was not recommended to recommence, had a specific focus on Israel or whether this was generic to all twinning arrangements.

The Head of Democratic Services advised that when the OSMB Sub-Group considered the recommendations within the report, the recommendation about twinning related to all potential twinning arrangements collectively. The Council did previously have twinning arrangements in place with St Quentin in france and other countries, which were not continued, and the council no longer actively promoted or delivered twinning.

Councillor Bacon advised that the context of the recommendation in question was important and queried that if it was the case that the Council no longer had twinning arrangements because of budgetary issues, why this was listed within this report.

Councillor Yasseen responded that the petition had not been brought to OSMB as local democratic representatives, it had been bought to OSMB by Rotherham residents. Councillor Yasseen stated that twinning did not exist currently, and she felt that the Council should do long term twinning to ensure stronger relationships outside Rotherham and internationally, the recommendation did not relate to one country and the idea was more symbolic and related to national and international history of twinning.

The Assistant Director of Legal, Elections and Registration Service/Monitoring Officer provided context to the background of the recommendation discussed and advised that as part of the petition presented to the OSMB Sub-Group for Councillors considerations, there was a question as to why if the Council was twinning with other areas, it could not for example twin with a Palestinian area. It was advised that there were no twinning agreements active, and the Council was not presently twinning in any context and would not initiate any more twinning arrangements.

Councillor Marshall stated that the flag had been raised previously for many atrocities throughout the world and although she felt that what happened on the 7th of October was atrocious, what was happening to the Palestinian people at present was worse. Councillor Marshall felt that as the flag had not yet been raised, no other flag could be raised and although the report stated that the flag raising should coincide with the United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people on the 29th of November 2024, she felt that the flag should be raised straight away.

Councillor Carter advised that there were many recommendations within the report that he felt members should support. Councillor Carter focused on recommendation 2.2 and queried whether the Council knew whether it had any contractual obligations with any companies named in the UN Human Rights Councils list or the Israeli Government, he felt this was important to clarify. Councillor Carter also said that he hoped to see the government take a stronger stance on making sure there would be a peaceful two-state solution.

Councillor Keenan said that she fully supported the recommendations within the report, in particular the recommendations that provided a visible sign of support in the borough for Palestine, such as the suggestions of interfaith and cultural sporting events, community art murals and olive trees.

The Chair asked Members to indicate if they wanted to make any amendments to the recommendations listed within the report. Councillor Yasseen requested that additional recommendations be added, which were to request that the Cabinet Spokesperson continue to hold dialogue with petitioners to continue to seek peace in Palestine and the Region and to request that Cabinet consider expediating the governance processes and provide updates to OSMB on progress against the recommendations.

The Chair thanked the lead petitioner for their participation in the petition process.

Resolved:- That the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board:

1)    Approve the recommendations numbered 1-3 listed within the report, which incorporates the petitions recommendations number 1-7 and forwards them to Cabinet for consideration and decision.

2)    Request that the Cabinet Spokesperson continues to hold dialogue with Petitioners to continue seek peace in Palestine and the Region.

3)    Request that Cabinet consider expediating the governance processes and provide updates to OSMB on progress against the recommendations.