Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing

Purpose of report

To respond to the motion passed at Full Council on 18 December 2023.

To combat period poverty, this Council asks the Executive

a)    to investigate and report back on the number of accessible locations across the Council’s estate where free sanitary products can feasibly and sensitively be provided.

b)    to consider the report and the recommendations therein to make a decision on implementation.”

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1         To provide free sanitary products in Bodicote House in the publicly accessible women's lavatories.

1.2         Furthermore, to provide an opportunity for community partners from the warm spaces network, community food network and community centres to opt in to providing female hygiene products at no cost to customers.

1.3         To provide a grant of £150 for up to 80 community locations who opt in.

Resolved

(1)          That it be agreed that free sanitary products be provided in Bodicote House in the publicly accessible women's lavatories.

(2)          That it be agreed to provide an opportunity for community partners from the warm spaces network, community food network and community centres to opt in to providing female hygiene products at no cost to customers.

(3)          That it be agreed to provide a grant of £150 for up to 80 community locations who opt in.

The Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing submitted a report to respond to the following motion which had been adopted by Full Council on 18 December 2023:

“To combat period poverty, this Council asks the Executive

a)    to investigate and report back on the number of accessible locations across the Council’s estate where free sanitary products can feasibly and sensitively be provided.

b)    to consider the report and the recommendations therein to make a decision on implementation.”

In response to a question from Councillor Woodcock regarding the possibility of Town and Parish Councils being included in the community partner discussions, the Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing agreed to liaise with the clerks at Banbury Town Council, Bicester Town Council and Kidlington Parish Council.  

In response to a question from the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration regarding what Oxfordshire County Council in respect of combatting period poverty, the Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing advised that she understood they would be providing free sanitary products in toilets at libraries but this had not yet commenced.

Resolved

(1)          That it be agreed that free sanitary products be provided in Bodicote House in the publicly accessible women's lavatories.

(2)          That it be agreed to provide an opportunity for community partners from the warm spaces network, community food network and community centres to opt in to providing female hygiene products at no cost to customers.

(3)          That it be agreed to provide a grant of £150 for up to 80 community locations who opt in.

Reasons

Period poverty is a local issue and the recommendations continue the spirit of the motion in providing products at Bodicote but recognises that women struggling to meet everyday costs of living are more likely to access community buildings and  community food provision making support of these spaces the best way to get district coverage of free hygiene products.

Alternative

Option 1: To do nothing.  Given the motion that was passed at Full Council and the potential impact on health and economic independence period poverty can have, this option has not been recommended.

Option 2: Consider providing more sustainable products rather than free disposable ones.  The prohibitive costs of more sustainable products and the administrative resource needed to offer them makes this a commitment beyond our current means and so hasn't been recommended.