WEST Dorset District Council is expected to finish the financial year at the end of March £384,500 to the good on its predictions for the year.

The money will go straight to the coffers of the new Dorset Council which replaces district and borough councils on April 1st.

The council is also expected to have £509,000 left from its capital budget – although not all that money will transfer as some has been committed to local schemes including the Dorchester town centre draft plan and a new harbour masters office at Lyme Regis.

The figures, in a report compiled by Financial Performance Officer, Christian Evans, will be presented to the council's strategy committee on February 7th.

Car park income in the district is predicted to be around £130,000 above last year's end of financial year figure – an increase of about 4.6 per cent, largely due to good summer weather.