Political | Posted on November 4th, 2025 | return to news

Help Dorset Council to set its budget

For the first time, residents have the chance to access a new online simulator to discover the complexities of setting a budget.

Dorset Council residents have been set a challenge.

From today (Tuesday 4 November), they have four weeks to have a go at setting the authority’s budget via a new online simulator.

The budget simulator will set out how much the council will have to spend against rising costs and an increased demand in services.

It will give residents a taste of the complex and difficult decisions that councillors must make when setting the budget.

Cllr Simon Clifford, Cabinet member for Finance and Capital Strategy, said: “Setting a balanced budget is one of the most difficult tasks we face as councillors. Dorset’s older population means we have higher demand for adult social care, and our rural geography adds cost to delivering services.

“This simulator gives residents a chance to see the reality behind the headlines — it’s all about trade-offs, choices, and listening to residents about what they want and need.

“People using the simulator might choose to spend more on looking after older people in care, but that could mean spending less on fixing potholes. And if they prioritise potholes, they might face even tougher decisions, like closing libraries or recycling centres.

“Every pound spent in one area means less in another. It’ll be interesting to see how the public approach setting their own budgets”

Dorset Council delivers around 450 services to 380,000 residents but receives less than two per cent of its income from central government. Most funding comes from council tax and business rates.

The simulator will give residents the chance to adjust spending across key services such as social care, waste collection, road maintenance, housing and libraries — and see the impact of their choices.

They can also say whether they would increase council tax, plus highlight the services that matter most to them.

Cllr Nick Ireland, leader of the council, said: “As with many councils across the country, we are under growing financial pressure, with adult and children’s social care services facing the greatest challenges.

“But as a rural authority, we have also been chronically underfunded by government for years.

“This means we are far more reliant on raising our income from council tax than urban councils.

“We are lobbying government hard to get a fairer deal for Dorset, but in the meantime, we want to be open about the financial pressures we face.

“This simulator not only gives residents the chance to explore the reality of budget-setting but will also help us understand what matters most to our communities.”

The simulator is designed to be quick and easy to use, taking around 10–15 minutes to complete.

Residents can use the simulator to increase or decrease spending in different service areas. They will be able to see the potential impact of their choices and choose a council tax level.

This simulator is not a vote or formal consultation, but an engagement exercise to help the council better understand residents’ priorities and values.

The simulator is live until 2 December 2025 at https://simulator.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. An offline version is also available in Dorset libraries.