Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) will investigate the possibility of providing support to eradicate period poverty following a motion being brought before it. A motion to ask TVBC to provide free period products in all its buildings, as well as contributing a payment to schools to do the same, had been brought before the council on January 27. Following debate, it was decided the motion should be considered by the council as it falls within its purview. At a cabinet meeting on March 10, councillors decided to have offices draw up a report into period poverty in Test Valley before committing to a course of action.
Test Valley Borough Councillors have approved plans to vote through a £2.50 council tax rise despite an attempt to reduce it to the rate of inflation. Councillors were asked to approve the decision of the Cabinet to see council tax rise this year, as well as a £1 fall in the Andover Special Expenses Levy. Liberal Democrat councillors introduced an amendment to limit the rise to the rate of inflation, 0.7 per cent, which would have seen an increase of £1.02. However, following debate, councillors voted broadly along party lines, with the Conservatives and Andover Independents Party voting against the amendment. The council tax rise was subsequently approved.