DORCHESTER Town Council is proud of its two per cent council tax increase this year – according to Policy committee chairman Cllr Richard Biggs.

He says the below inflation increase will add only £4.12 over the year to an average Band D property, bringing the town council's share of the tax to £210.33, compared to over £2,000 which will be paid to Dorset Council.

Mr Biggs told town councillors that the authority's income has been helped by earning added interest on investments and a growth in the number of homes in the town which brings in more tax revenue.

He said the town council had a good reputation for financial stability and preferred steady rises, aware of the financial difficulties many people were now facing.

"We don't look at what other councils are doing. We decide what's best for the town," he told the full council, adding that people often commented how much they appreciated what the town council was providing.

The meeting, which was previewed on Dorchester Nub News last week, unanimously approved the budget.

Neighbouring Weymouth town council is one of the few not make any increase in its council tax for the coming year with residents in the town continuing to pay £15.14 each month for the town council share on a Band D property.

The Dorchester Town Council 2 per cent rise will allow it to set up a reserve fund for future maintenance on the Poundbury Great Field and take on an additional part-time outdoor services staff member and a new volunteer town crier.

Money is also being set aside in the 2024-25 budget for works to improve the entrance area to the Corn Exchange/Town Hall complex, for repairs to the Poundbury Cemetery fence and walls and to buy a new electric works vehicle.

Also included in the budget is £24,400 for councillors allowances, £13,000 for Mayoral expenses and £5,600 towards the costs of a new town crier, most of that expected to be used to buy a uniform and hat.

One of the town council's biggest spending areas is for parks and open spaces at a cost of £724,000, followed by £400,000 on the Municipal Buildings complex with £965,000 a year in staff costs.

The council also contributes £8,000 a year to tourism development in the town, £9,000 to Citizens Advice, £21,00 to the Youth and Community Centre and is set to pay out £5,500 during the year for the services of a videographer.

Council accounts show it expects to have around £1.4million in earmarked reserves and £100,000 in general reserves in the 2024/25 year.