DORCHESTER Town Council is likely to end the financial year slightly better off than it hoped.

A report says that the full year underspend is likely to be between £20,000 and £30,000 – money which will be transferred into the council’s projects reserve fund.

The situation would have been better had staff sickness not cost £11,000 more than anticipated. Takings from building hire and cemetery income are also down – each by £9,000 on the estimated end of year figure.