Councillors’ overriding aim in setting the council’s budget for 2023 to 2024 is to protect the essential frontline council services on which local residents and businesses rely.
A balanced budget has been set without the need for service cuts. This was achieved despite extreme financial pressures, with high inflation increasing the cost of delivering council services.
Dorset Council provides around 450 different services to 380,000 residents. Waste collection, road maintenance, planning, housing, libraries, and adults and children’s social care are just some of the vital services which support the smooth running of our local communities.
Since becoming a unitary council in 2019, we have made savings of £76 million by restructuring staff, and re-designing how services are provided. This money has been reinvested into frontline services, including funding the growing need for adult social care due to our ageing population.
How Council Tax is affected
Council Tax has increased by just under 2% and the adult social care precept by 2% to bring in the required funding to maintain services. This equates to £1.40 extra per week for a Band D property, and is below the maximum 5% increase the government has allowed councils to make. It is well below the current rate of inflation.
