FOI request (FOIR-631333842)

Council protests

Requested Wed 17 July 2024
Responded Fri 09 August 2024

I am investigating how much has been spent on policing and managing Palestine protests since 7th October and the broader impact of protests on council proceedings.

With this in mind, I have several questions for your council.

1. How much has the council spent on security - private security, police, and general management of protests around Palestine, Gaza and Israel - from 7th October 2023 until June 2024?

2. What was the total council security expenditure October 2023 - June 2024? This includes staff costs, and/or equipment (such as alarms, monitoring, and maintenance), and/or third-party costs (such as private security costs).

3. What was the total council security expenditure October 2022 - June 2023?

4. How many council meetings have been disrupted by protests since 7th October? How many of these protests were related to the Israel/Palestine conflict and/or the war in Gaza?

5. How many (if any) council meetings have been cancelled since 7th October? How many of these protests were related to the Israel/Palestine conflict and/or the war in Gaza?

6. How many people do you understand have taken part in Gaza/anti-Israel/pro-Palestine protests in and around council buildings?

7. Have the police been involved in any protests at the council since 7th October? If so, how many times and were any arrests made? If so, how many and why?

8. How many motions, questions, or resolutions about Israel/Palestine have been tabled to the council since 7th October?

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Response

1. Zero

2. Spend between October 2023 and June 2024 - £68,175.77

3. Spend between October 2022 and June 2023 - £33,595.63

Please note there was £17,000 spend on the grounds maintenance depot as part of the figures for question 2.

4. Full Council meeting held on 20th March 2024 was adjourned due to protest.

5. None cancelled, one adjourned on 20th March 2024.

6. Information not held.

7. Information not held.

8. No motions, questions, or resolutions relating to Israel/Palestine have been tabled on the agenda for discussion at Full Council.