NEW ways of working and a brighter future – despite financial pressures – have been laid out as a pathway to the future by Dorset Council.

It believes it can tackle departments working in isolation, dubbed 'silo working' , and make communicating with the council easier and more open for residents and organisations.

Council leader Nick Ireland says he would like to see Dorset become a model for unitary councils across the country by its new ways of working.

"The truth is this – the world has moved on faster than local government has : demand is rising, resources are under pressure and residents, quite rightly, expect more from us; more consistency; more clarity and better outcomes. If we are being honest with ourselves, doing more of the same will not meet that challenge."

The leader said that too often the council acted as if it were separate parts, not one organisation with services shaped by internal needs, rather than the needs of residents.

"This is about backing a different way of working, one which is simpler and more joined up and relentlessly focused on outcomes," he said, adding "Let's be ambitious for Dorset."

Weymouth councillor and new Cabinet member, Matt Bell, told the meeting he was very excited by the changes, while Dorchester councillor Richard Biggs, was equally as enthusiastic but warned that there would be mistakes along the way, which the council would learn from.

Cllr Bell said: "This puts residents at the heart of our organisation. Too often it doesn't join up from their point of view. This commits us to working with communities, not doing things to them."

Finance portfolio holder Cllr Simon Clifford (Chickerell) said he believed the changes would cut out duplication and waste and help the authority better plan ahead.

Wimborne councillor Shane Bartlett said that while what the council was doing would be a great help – it would be better for the Government to improve the funding formula which, for many years, had disadvantaged the county and continued to do so.