An appeal for a zero tax increase for Dorchester Town Council's share of the council tax has been rejected.

The authority's policy committee has unanimously backed a two per cent rise, adding £3.96 a year to bring the average band D bill to £202.17.

A plea to follow the example of Weymouth Town Council and adopt a stand-still in the share of the council tax came from Barry Armstrong-Marshall.

He told the online meeting on Monday evening that with a rise in the council's tax base rate, because of additional homes being built, the authority could afford to keep the increase lower, suggesting that no increase ought to be considered.

"Over the years the increases add up…people are under pressure and even a small increase will have an impact," he said.

But other councillors on the committee backed sticking to the council's "little and often" policy which they believe maintains services and avoids what has previously been seen – no increase for years, followed by a massive hike.

Chairman of the committee Cllr Susie Hosford told councillors that the base rate increase meant more people to provide services for and comparisons with Weymouth were misleading, the two towns being entirely different.

"If we don't stick to the strategy it will eventually set us back – we simply end up playing catch up," she said.

She said the council provided the town, and surrounding areas, with excellent facilities including the recently refurbished Corn Exchange, and would shortly be taking on the care of the new play facility at Poundbury Great Field.

Cllr Hosford said the town council was also preparing, if it needed, to take on some non-statutory services for the town which might be dropped by Dorset Council which is having a three per cent increase in its council tax share, making up the bulk of the bills paid by residents.

Cllr Richard Biggs described comparisons with Weymouth, or other towns, as "a dangerous game."

"We should stick to our policy. What we do know is that these are services which people cherish," he said, adding that without the rise the council would struggle to meet expected additional spending on wages and utility bills.