Council agrees 'tough' tax increase in budget

A council has agreed a "tough" 5% increase in council tax.

Dorset Council's finance portfolio holder Simon Clifford said the authority was having to make hard decisions in the budget, which comes into effect in April.

For a band D property, the increase amounts to an extra £1.91 per week.

The Liberal Democrat councillor said the increased budget would see more spending, "helping a lot of people and investing in our county".

The budget will also include job losses, but Dorset Council confirmed on Wednesday that plans for a controversial evening parking charge had been paused.

Clifford said the budget would allow for spending of £40m on housing, public health, children's services, and highways.

"We are investing in services for people that need it while making efficiencies in the running of the council," he said.

"Its tough, it's challenging, and we have to make really hard decisions"

Conservative group leader Andrew Parry criticised the Liberal Democrats for spending £500,00 on consultants to tell the council how to save money, saying he had "grave concerns" the Liberal Democrats would not be able to deliver on their promises.

Green group leader Clare Sutton said, despite reservations, her group would support the budget.

Labour councillor Kate Wheller said the budget was "devoid of substance".

She also said she was hopeful the county's new Labour MPs would be able to work with government to improve next year's grant settlement, taking into account the high percentage of older people living in Dorset.

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