A debate over an allowance motion at Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) became particularly heated on Wednesday (April 7) as councillors argued over the motion. Cllr David Coole had proposed that the minority opposition group leader on the council, himself, should be paid a special responsibilities allowance (SRA). These allowances are given to support extra work undertaken by councillors with additional roles. He said that being paid the allowance was “a matter of complying with the constitution”. Other councillors, however, accused him of having a “total lack of respect” for TVBC and residents by asking for the payment. The motion proposed at a meeting of the full council on April 7 said that a SRA should be paid to the leader of the minority opposition group, and backdated to May 2019. Cllr Coole argued that by having three members, the Andover Independents Party is an opposition group on the council.
Andover Town Council has voted to maintain its tax precept at the current level following a lengthy meeting of the full council. Councillors voted to maintain the level at £21.10 per Band D household for another year, generating just under £350,000 in revenue. This fell short of the proposed expenditure of at least £466,208 the council had planned in its budget, with the internal auditor have suggested the council consider an increase. However, following debates over a proposed new budget, the costs were reduced to just under £365,000, with the remaining shortfall to be met from the council’s reserves. Councillors met at the full council precept meeting on Tuesday, January 26, to set the level of precept for the rest of the year, which had to be decided on before the end of the month.