The Full Council meeting scheduled for Thursday, 17 September 2026, was set to address a range of significant issues, including motions on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), protecting local democracy in planning, and the efficient delivery of infrastructure. The meeting also included a Leader's Statement and a session for questions to the Leader and Cabinet members.

Motions on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

Two motions concerning Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) were scheduled for discussion. Councillor McMurray's motion highlighted concerns about the quality, crowdedness, and associated issues of HMOs in Hull, noting that many residents have raised issues relating to waste disposal, parking, and anti-social behaviour. The motion also pointed out that while HMOs of five or more occupants are subject to mandatory licensing, many residents have expressed concerns about the suitability of such accommodation for people with complex needs. The motion proposed calling on the government to introduce stronger powers for local authorities to regulate HMOs, requesting a report on the current numbers and impact of HMOs in Hull, and considering the extension of Article 4 directions to cover more areas of the city.

Councillor D. Graham's motion also addressed HMOs, focusing on Policy 7 of the Hull Local Plan 2016 to 2032, which generally restricts further HMOs once they exceed 50% of a street. The motion noted that the Council's own Supplementary Planning Document suggested this 50% figure might be too high and that the issue would be addressed in the Local Plan review. It also highlighted that Article 4 Directions, which require planning permission for converting a family home into a small HMO, only apply to parts of the city. The motion proposed asking the Cabinet to report on replacing the 50% threshold with a lower figure, extending Article 4 controls across the city, and introducing an additional licensing scheme for HMOs below the national mandatory licensing threshold.

Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP)

Councillor Thompson was scheduled to move a motion regarding the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). The motion noted persistent public dissatisfaction with current bus services in Hull, provided by private operators, citing issues such as delays, cancellations, unreliable real-time information, and crowding. It highlighted the success of bus franchising in other areas, such as Greater Manchester, as a means to improve cost, reliability, quality, and coverage under local public control. The motion also referenced recent government announcements on capping bus fares and providing free travel for under-16s in August 2026. The motion proposed welcoming these announcements, calling on Mayor Luke Campbell to confirm the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority's intention to take up its Local Transport Authority powers, and urging the immediate commencement of the legal process for franchising bus services.

Protecting Local Democracy in Planning

Councillor Ross was set to move a motion on Protecting Local Democracy in Planning. The motion expressed opposition to recent changes in England's planning system introduced by the Labour Government, which it argued centralise planning decisions and reduce the discretion of locally elected councillors. It highlighted that national rules cannot always reflect local challenges, particularly in Hull, which is at risk of flooding and requires detailed local assessment for development. The motion proposed calling on the Government to review national planning committee reforms, ensure elected councillors retain a meaningful role in determining significant applications, and protect Hull's local circumstances and democratic voice. It also proposed asking the Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Commission to examine the impact of planning reforms on Hull.

Delivering Infrastructure More Efficiently

Councillor Ieronimo was scheduled to move a motion on Delivering Infrastructure More Efficiently. The motion noted that high-quality transport infrastructure is essential for Hull's economic growth and regeneration, but that the cost and complexity of diverting underground utility apparatus have become significant barriers to efficient project delivery. It stated that utility diversions can account for a substantial proportion of project costs and cause considerable delays. The motion proposed requesting that the Leader of the Council write to the Secretary of State for Transport and the Secretary of State responsible for energy and utilities, calling for a comprehensive review of the statutory framework governing utility diversions and street works. It also proposed asking the Government to consider various reforms, including the allocation of diversion costs, stronger duties on utility companies, faster statutory timescales, and the adoption of international best practices.

Leader's Statement and Questions

The meeting agenda also included a Leader's Statement, where the Leader of the Council could make a statement, followed by responses from leaders of political groups. Additionally, there was a session for questions to the Leader of the Council, Members of the Cabinet, and Chairs of Committees. These questions covered a range of topics, including the use of the Royal Hotel for asylum seekers, bus route issues, support for Pride in Hull, measures to tackle anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime, improvements to East Park, the impact of Armed Forces Day, the use of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) for asylum seekers, the new 3G pitch at Costello Playing Fields, ward budget processes, the reopening of Ennerdale Leisure Centre, the condition of the Zetland Arms, Hull City Council's shortlisting for 'Green Council of the Year', the prevalence of vape shops and barbers as fronts for illegal activity, the use of new powers against shoddy private landlords, the repair of the Time Ball, the impact of the Right to Buy scheme on Council housing stock, consultations on new bus stops, and the Council's emergency planning for extreme temperature conditions.

The meeting also included procedural items such as receiving apologies and declarations of interest. The approval of minutes from the previous meeting, reporting on the composition of political groups, and considering motions for the membership of committees, joint committees, and external bodies were also on the agenda. A session for petitions was also scheduled.