Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: December 9, 2025

Purpose:

Content: (1)                      Bowling Park Community Orchard: Help Safeguard its Future   Resolved:  That the petition be referred to the Executive.   To be actioned by:  Strategic Director Corporate Resources/S151 Officer/Director of Legal and Governance   (2)                       Making Bowling Cemetery a Dog Free Zone   Resolved:  That the petition be referred to the Regulatory and Appeals Committee.   To be actioned by:  Strategic Director Place/Director of Legal and Governance   PETITION - WEST YORKSHIRE PENSION FUND - DIVEST FROM GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE MOTION 12.1 - CALL TO DIVEST THE WEST YORKSHIRE PENSION FUND FROM COMPANIES THAT ARE COMPLICIT IN OR PROFIT FROM THE VIOLATION OF PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS, INTERNATIONAL LAW AND ACTS OF ETHNIC CLEANSING   Motion 12.1   Motion 12.1 was moved by Councillor Ward and seconded by Councillor Saddiq.   In accordance with Council Standing Orders 18.4  and 18.8  an amendment (additional published papers Amendment A) was moved by Councillor Hinchcliffe and seconded  by Councillor Imran Khan.   Following a number of speakers in accordance with Council Standing Order 18.12 Amendment A as set out below was then put to the vote, was carried and became the substantive motion, was then voted on and was carried.            Resolved-   That with the addition and deletion of the appropriate words, the motion be amended to read as follows:   Council notes: A temporary ceasefire was agreed in October.  But just last week two Palestinian children were killed by an Israeli drone strike in southern Gaza.  We hear from the Prime Minister of Qatar that the negotiations on a lasting ceasefire are at a critical moment. We urge world leaders to turn this opportunity into lasting peace, to stop the killing and to achieve a two-state solution. The incalculable devastation caused by Israel’s military assault on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza that has caused intolerable civilian suffering, including widespread displacement and severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. That on 7th May 2025, a group of over 20 UN independent experts, including the Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese stated that the actions unfolding in Gaza ‘bear the hallmarks of genocide’ and in their words, ‘the international community has failed to prevent genocide before, we must not fail again’. That East Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Golan Heights and Gaza are illegally occupied by Israel; and that prior to the current genocide, Gaza had been subject to a blockade since 2007. The establishment of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. That the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has commissioned a legal memorandum (the ‘Position Paper’) regarding local authority pension fund investments in companies that are aiding or assisting in Israel’s violations of the most fundamental norms of international law. The 74-page Position Paper has been prepared by counsel (Max du Plessis S.C., Tatyana Eatwell and Joshua Jackson), with the assistance of Deighton Pierce Glynn solicitors.  The Position Paper sets out an opinion on the duties Local and Central Government have to prevent and not assist Israel’s violations of international law, and how those duties apply to public sector investments under the Local Government Pension Scheme (‘LGPS’). The legal memorandum has been sent to all administering authorities under the LGPS – including Bradford Council - asking them to take action to divest public money from companies furthering Israel’s violations of international law. That the Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board has now written to Government asking for further advice and guidance because investment professionals would be acting outside their authority to decide on world matters normally the domain of Governments and the UN.  A response is awaited. There has been a huge policy shift by the Labour Government from the previous Conservative Government on this issue. After being elected the Labour Government has: ·       Recognised Palestine as a Sovereign State ·       Called for an immediate ceasefire ·       Restored funding to UNWRA, the UN’s aid agency for Gaza ·       Completed a review of UK arms exports licensing to Israel and has suspended 30 export licenses where there was a clear risk that exports, where used for military operations in Gaza, might be used in serious violations of International Humanitarian Law. ·       suspended negotiations with this Israeli Government on a new free trade agreement and is to review cooperation under existing agreements. ·       Completely rejected the challenge of the previous Government who wanted to contest the right of the International Criminal Court to seek arrest warrants for those complicit in committing genocide This Council further notes: 1.    That the West Yorkshire Pension Fund’s investments are not controlled by Bradford district councillors.  Councillors can urge but cannot instruct. 2.    The Supreme Court held, in its judgment on the Palestine Solidarity Campaign case, that pension funds cannot take into consideration political preferences over what is required under their fiduciary duty. 3.    That WYPF has a fiduciary duty to its pensioners and participating employers whose money it invests on their behalf.  This is not council money. 4.    The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) publishes a database of companies involved in ‘specified activities’ in the occupied Palestinian territory. WYPF does not have holdings in any of these companies. 5.     That Bradford Council through the instrument of its Treasury Management passed by Full Council is really clear that it is only allowed only to invest in the following countries: Australia, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Finland, USA, UAE, Qatar, Belgium, France and UK. This Council resolves to: 1)    Continue to call on the UK Government to stop arms sales that are used in acts that violate international law. 2)    Urge WYPF to uphold the highest standards, for the benefit of its members, in its stated commitment to being a responsible investor, taking account of social, environmental and corporate governance considerations in the selection, non-selection, retention and realisation of investments and its engagement and stewardship activities. 3)    Urge the West Yorkshire Pension Fund to divest themselves of any activity that is complicit in human rights abuses, war crimes, or genocide anywhere in the world. 4)    Urge West Yorkshire Pension Fund to use its position on the national Local Authority Pension Fund Forum to influence other LGPS funds to do likewise. 5)    Urge Government to reply to the Local Government Pension Scheme Advisory Board letter as soon as possible to provide the direction they have sought. 6)    Conduct a thorough review of the Council’s financial ties and procurement practices to see whether there are any investments in, or any goods, services or consumables supplied by companies with links to the arms industry, or those directly or indirectly involved in either: a) the Gaza conflict, and/or b) illegal settlement activity in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. 7)    Further calls on Government to implement: a.    targeted sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes on all individuals and entities complicit in maintaining Israel's unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. b.    A ban on all trade in goods and services with, and investments in, illegal Israeli settlements.     PETITION -  WEST YORKSHIRE PENSION FUND – DIVEST FROM GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE   Resolved-   That the petition be referred to the West Yorkshire Pension Fund.   To be actioned by:  Director of West Yorkshire Pension Fund