COUNCIL tax in Dorset is set to rank among the highest in the country for 2021/22 along with a near 5% increase on the year before.

Council tax for residents in the Dorset Council area ranks as ‘very high’ for next year in research by the company Property Data.

The area ranks 351 out of 387 local authorities across the UK for the price of its tax, where the number one spot is the lowest.

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In contrast to 2020/21 council tax in the area is increasing by 4.99%, which is one of the largest increases in the UK, with only three other authorities putting their prices up by 5% or more.

In response Dorset Council said their rates remain higher for a number of reasons.

“Dorset Council suffers from unfair funding from government compared to similar councils across the UK,” said Cllr Spencer Flower, leader of Dorset Council.

“We retain a lower proportion of local business rates than most comparable councils. We receive no revenue support grant (RSG) from government, while many comparable councils still receive several million pounds each year in RSG. And levelling up funding seems to favour urban areas rather than large rural areas like Dorset.

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“Meanwhile our costs are higher than many other councils because we have a larger older population (29% of residents are aged over 65, compared to 19% nationally), who require more social care which we have a statutory duty to provide.

“Adult social care represents the biggest area of spend for Dorset Council, requiring more than 50% of the council’s budget each year. As a rural council, we also have higher costs – for example, more miles of road to maintain. As a comparison, Dorset Council covers 2600 square miles, while neighbouring BCP Council covers 161 square miles.”

The research produced by the property data company is based on the average annual band d council tax price for each council in the UK for 2021/22.

Dorset’s is £1,779 by contrast the most expensive is Blaenau Gwent, Wales, at £2,078 and the cheapest is Westminster at £828.

Neighbouring Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council ranks in the ‘average’ tax band in 122nd place with £1,542, with only a 1.55% increase on the year prior.

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Cllr Flower said: “Dorset Council is very dependent on council tax as a source of funding to pay for essential council services, a greater proportion (85%) of our income has to come from council tax compared to most other councils in England.

“I am an advocate for Dorset, not an apologist for the government. I don’t want to see Dorset residents having to pay high council tax. This is why I and my fellow councillors continue to lobby government ministers and local MPs to secure fairer funding for Dorset. If residents feel strongly about this, I encourage them to contact their local MP on this issue.”