Hastings Borough Council could be set to change its constitution in order to allow councillors to discuss a motion on a ceasefire in Gaza.
The potential change was briefly discussed at a full council meeting on Wednesday (July 17), in response to a question about the authority’s decision to block previous motions on the subject.
The blocking of the motion has proven to be controversial, with a previous full council meeting abandoned in March after campaigners stood in the public gallery to ask whether the motion would be heard.
This abandoned meeting was brought up by Cllr Paul Barnett, leader of the Hastings Independents, in a question to council leader Julia Hilton. Cllr Barnett said:
“On March 20 this year, the last full council before the local elections, our meeting was abandoned before any business could be considered.
“This was as a direct result of the decision not to allow our motion about Gaza to be debated. Not a good look really for this council, given the strength of feeling in our community on the subject.
“Last December a different Green Party motion on Gaza was also not allowed. The same thing has happened to us this evening.
“I am really upset by this as are others in the chamber here tonight. So can the leader of the council please tell us what plan she has to ensure that councillors not officers determine future council agendas.”
A ceasefire motion, in various forms, has been repeatedly rebuffed by the council over the past few months on the grounds the subject was not relevant to Hastings.
Currently, the constitution requires motions to be “about matters for which the council has statutory powers, duties or functions or address the built or natural environment of the Borough of Hastings or address a matter of local, regional or national policy that affects the lives of people in the Borough of Hastings.”
The LDRS understands that the Green Party and Hastings Independents had been intending to table an amendment to the constitution at the abandoned meeting in March. This probably would not have allowed the motion to be considered at that meeting, but could have opened the door to its consideration at a future meeting
Responding to Cllr Barnett’s question, Cllr Hilton indicated that she hoped to bring forward this change. She said:
“I would be delighted to bring an amendment to the next working arrangements group. We haven’t had one since the [local] elections, because we went straight into the general elections.
“The next working arrangements group can discuss how we change how we agree what motions go forward. I have asked to ensure there is a meeting of the working arrangements group before the next full council [meeting], which is not until September.
“That is a cross-party group which discusses constitutional amendments and brings them back for adoption by the next full council.”
It is currently unclear whether the potential constitutional changes would allow a ceasefire motion to be heard at the September meeting, although it is perhaps unlikely as the constitution also requires at least eight days of notice for most motions.
The full council meeting after the one due to be held in September is currently expected to take place in November.
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