Monday's full council meeting promises to be another dramatic occasion. The agenda includes a range of motions which are certain to cause a stir, including resisting any Asylum Hotels and increasing allowances for certain councillors.
Asylum Hotels
The most contentious item on the agenda relates to Asylum Hotels. The motion, proposed by Cllr Steve Ricketts (Drake) and seconded by independent group leader Cllr Patrick Nicholson (Plympton St Mary) notes the pressure put on the government by protests and legal challenges.
The motion has one simple ask: for Tudor Evans to write to the Government stating that "Plymouth does not want any Asylum Hotels in Plymouth".
Will Labour councillors back the motion?
Flags
You may be surprised to learn that this motion has been put forward by two Labour councillors, proposed by Cllr Kevin Sproston (Budshead) and seconded by long-serving councillor Chris Penberthy (St Peter and the Waterfront).
The motion appears positive, noting that the council already flies flags on its premises and celebrating the right of every citizen to fly flags on their own property.
But all is not what it seems with this motion. The motion also commits Plymouth City Council to "reaffirm" national government guidance on flag flying. Delve into this guidance and it states that the local highways authority must give permission before flags are flown.
Has the council learned a lesson after recent protests or will they continue taking down flags?
Increasing councillor allowances
Next up is councillor allowances - but don't worry, this doesn't affect Tudor Evans's £55k allowance. Instead, the council's Independent Remuneration Panel are proposing a series of amendments for opposition councillor allowances, as independent and Conservative councillors are tied for seats following the defection of Cllr Carol Ney (Southway) from Labour to independent in May.
The panel proposes that a tiered scheme is introduced for Opposition Group Leaders, which will equalise the allowances of the Conservative group leader Cllr Andy Lugger (Southway) and independent leader Cllr Patrick Nicholson (Plympton St Mary).
Potholes
If you've ever been frustrated when Plymouth Highways repair a pothole, only to leave others unrepaired, then help may be around the corner.
Plymouth Conservatives are calling for a common sense approach to potholes, investigating whether contractors can proactively repair other potholes in the vicinity when attending a highway defect. The motion is proposed by rising star Cllr Chris Wood (Eggbuckland) and seconded by Conservative group leader Cllr Andy Lugger (Southway), noting that potholes in Plymouth have spiralled during the last 5 years.
Tree felling
Last but not least is tree felling, proposed by the independents Cllr Maddi Bridgman (Moor View) and Cllr Patrick Nicholson (Plympton St Mary). The motion points out an obvious flaw in the council's approach to Tree Preservation Orders, which the council do not apply to their own trees.
At June's council meeting, political failures that had led to the Armada Way tree scandal were laid bare, highlighting that Plymouth Labour could have stopped the tree felling. Had this motion been passed three years earlier, Armada Way's trees could have been protected.
Political drama ahead?
This is the first full council since July's mayoral referendum, where Plymouth residents voted narrowly to keep with the current system following the government's intervention.
You're Invited to Watch Democracy in Action
Members of the public can witness the proceedings in person by attending the Council House next to the Civic Centre at 2pm on Monday 15th September 2025.
Full council meetings bring together all 57 Plymouth City Councillors under the Lord Mayor's chairmanship, following the formal procedures laid out in the Council's constitution.
How to Watch:
Plymouth residents can either attend the upcoming council meeting in person by heading to the public gallery at the Council House in good time for the 2pm start, or watch live online.
You can view the full agenda here.
