DORSET’S Joint Public Health Board is expecting an underspend on almost half a million pounds by the end of the current financial year.

It follows an underspend in the last financial year which included returning £1.2million, shared between Dorset County Council, Bournemouth Borough and Poole Borough.

The body has a revenue budget for the current year of around £28million and carries out public health programmes across the county including the school nursing service, drug and alcohol services and managing NHS free medical checks.

Almost £900,000 in the reserve budget is being set aside for future programmes including for schools’ physical activity promotion and emotional health and wellbeing services.