Political | Posted on November 20th, 2025 | return to news

Dorset Council calls for more funding for the rural county

The council feels that, at present, Dorset doesn’t receive sufficient funding for such a rural county with a high population of older residents.

Dorset Council is amongst voices in the country hoping that the Autumn Statement, due to be delivered by Chancellor Rachel Reeves on 26 November, will bring welcome news to the county and see an end to the ‘postcode lottery’ in local government funding.

Cllr Simon Clifford, Cabinet member for Finance, is urging the government to:

Significantly increase funding to meet rising demand for social care, support for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and housing that people can afford.
Deliver multi-year funding settlements so the council can plan effectively.
Recognise that a rural council has unique challenges with an older population and significant transport gaps.
Give the go-ahead for Wessex devolution, unlocking £300m a year for infrastructure and growth in the southwest region.

Cllr Simon Clifford said: “The government needs to pull its finger out and stop penalising rural areas. Councils like Dorset are being left behind. Our residents pay more and get less, while urban areas receive far greater government support. We need bold action from the government now – fair funding for rural communities, urgent reform of the SEND system, and investment that allows Dorset to thrive.

“We have no option but to keep increasing council tax, even though it is already high – it is a huge burden for residents and to see people living in central London pay less is totally unfair.

“As a comparison, Westminster Council receives £38 million in government revenue support grant, compared to just £1.7 million for Dorset. On top of that, Westminster benefits from far higher business rates because of its concentration of high-value commercial properties. This allows Westminster to keep council tax low – so even Buckingham Palace, a Band H property, pays only £2,034. Meanwhile, a typical Band C home in Weymouth pays £2,222.”

Dorset faces the following pressures:

Following years of chronic underfunding by government, 82 per cent of Dorset Council’s funding comes from council tax, placing an unfair burden on residents.
The council’s £148m SEND deficit threatens financial sustainability when the statutory override ends.
Dorset has the oldest population per capita of any unitary authority, driving soaring demand for social care.
South West England is currently a ‘devolution desert’, costing Dorset and the wider region £300m a year in lost investment.