Dorset, Political | Posted on January 9th, 2025 | return to news
Dorset Council unveils £416 million budget
The public are invited to attend committee meetings or to view them online in order to discover more about the Dorset Council budget.
The public are invited to attend council committee meetings this month ahead of Dorset’s approval of its budget on 11 February.
The authority has set out proposals for a £416 million budget for 2025/26, admitting that tough decisions will have to be made including job losses in the future.
There will be a £39 million increase in spending from last year. Additional funding includes: £14.5 million for adult social care and housing services; £1.5 million for children’s services, and £4 million for Place services including transport, highways and planning services.
Councils are required by law to set a balanced budget with expenditure equal to revenue. Dorset Council faces rising pressures on services, for example with the growing number of older people in Dorset who need social care support. The additional cost of service delivery next year is forecast to be £83.4 million. Yet council funding is set and limited by government and this sum is not affordable.
The council’s budget proposals therefore also outline significant cost-saving measures of around £44 million to be delivered in the following ways:
- New service grants and income – £12 million
- Managing and meeting needs differently – £14 million
- Reducing third-party spend – £3 million
- and operating more efficiently as a council – £14.4 million
The council has developed a transformation plan to streamline council operations including increased use of technology, better customer service, working more closely with communities, and lower operating costs. Over the coming years, these changes will result in a slimmer council with fewer staff.
The detailed proposals are set out in a budget and medium-term financial plan which will go before the council’s scrutiny committees next week.
To support these initiatives, the council proposes a council tax increase of just under 3 per cent and a 2 per cent adult social care precept. This equates to an additional 24p a day for most households. Details will be available with council tax bills in March and online after the budget is approved at a full council meeting on 11 February.
Cllr Simon Clifford, Cabinet member for Finance and Capital Strategy, said: “We are making substantial investments in essential services. Since taking leadership of the council last May, we’ve prioritised housing, economic growth, supporting communities, and addressing the climate and nature crisis.
“It continues to be a tough financial climate for councils with inflation, the new requirement to pay higher employee National Insurance costs, and the ever-increasing need for social care services, particularly with our growing older population in Dorset.
“Despite these national financial challenges, we are making tough decisions to secure a strong financial future for Dorset Council and deliver the services our residents need most.”
The budget setting process takes place in several stages. The proposals are considered by two scrutiny committees, then reviewed and submitted to Cabinet, and then to the full council in February for final approval. The public meetings are as follows:
- 2pm, Thursday 9 January – Joint Overview committee
- 10am, Thursday 16 January – People and Health Scrutiny Committee
- 2pm, Friday 17 January – Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee
- 6.30pm, Tuesday 28 January – Cabinet
- 6.30pm, Tuesday 11 February – Full Council
These committee meetings can be viewed online and in person. View the calendar and joining details on: dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/councillors-committees-elections/councillors-committees-and-elections.
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