In LoTR, Galadriel tells the fellowship that she was the one who summoned the council originally, and had intended for Gandalf to be at its head.
Also in LoTR, at the council in Rivendell, Gandalf tells that Saruman dissuaded the council from direct action against Sauron in Dol Guldur (after Gandalf had determined that the Necromancer was Sauron), only yielding at some length as Sauron's strength grew greater.
