Dorset Council plans to increase council tax by about 2 per cent as it sets out its plans for its next budget.

The local authority's total net budget for the 2023-24 year will be £348 million, and it is required by law to balance its books.

The council has published its initial proposals and has promised to protect essential frontline services from cuts.

Councils up and down the country are required by law to set a balanced budget which means its expenditure must be balanced by income.

This year’s budget setting takes place against a national background of extreme pressures for local authority spending. 

High levels of inflation and the continued growth in need for social care services as a result of the ageing population are adding to the challenges. 

Dorset Council’s cost pressures have been documented via a series of financial management reports to cabinet, and a budget update provided in October.

The council proposes to increase council tax next year by just under 2 per cent - and impose the separate adult social care precept increase of 2 per cent.

The increase would be equivalent to £1.41 extra per week for a Band D property.

Cllr Gary Suttle, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for finance, commercial and capital strategy, said: “We have carefully developed proposals to deliver a balanced budget, in a national context of significant financial challenge.

"Our overriding aim is to protect the essential frontline council services on which local residents and businesses rely.

"The proposals do include a council tax increase, however we have kept to it to the minimum possible, despite the current high level of inflation.

"Since becoming a unitary council in 2019, we have made efficiency savings of £76 million, and this money has been reinvested to protect frontline services.

“However, we continue to lobby Government for fairer funding for Dorset so that we can reduce the burden on local taxpayers in future.”

The budget proposals will now be considered by two scrutiny committees, then reviewed and submitted to cabinet on January 23. They will then go to full council for final approval on February 14.