There was a sense of anticipation among Plymouth’s political groups as councillors arrived for today’s Full Council meeting, with the recent defection of two Reform UK councillors to Restore Britain adding an extra edge to proceedings.
Reform councillors appeared fairly relaxed as they arrived, although group leader Steve Ricketts perhaps looked a little more apprehensive than some of his colleagues.
Ricketts was due to bring forward a motion asking the council to investigate whether Plymouth could lawfully give greater priority for social housing to young British born workers and Armed Forces veterans.
Fellow Reform councillor Andy Rose was pictured smiling as he headed into the meeting. His motion calls for the three street-name signs removed from Sir John Hawkins Square in 2020 to be replaced.
The two Restore councillors proved rather more camera shy. There was no sign of them when Plymouth Post was taking pictures outside, although Andrew Crumplin’s familiar van was parked nearby, with its former Reform appearance seemingly having undergone a few alterations.
The Conservatives were also looking upbeat ahead of proceedings. Group leader Councillor Chris Wood has a motion calling for improvements to Plymouth’s public realm, including grass cutting, weed control, overgrown vegetation and tree maintenance.
And amid the political heat of recent days, the Greens appeared to be taking things rather more cheerfully, laughing and joking as they arrived.
Councillors Lauren McLay and Saahi Aroori are calling for Plymouth to establish a network of free “Cool Spaces” where residents can escape extreme summer temperatures.
So, after all the political heat of recent days, perhaps for once the Greens have come up with just the thing, somewhere for everyone to cool off.
Photographs © Wayne Perry / Plymouth Post