EFFORTS are to be made to make more of Dorset Council’s meetings accessible to new, younger councillors, who are more likely to be working and raising children.

The previous Conservative administration was asked to make the changes at the start of their period in office, but did not do so.

New chair of the authority, Cllr Stella Jones, told the May meeting of Dorchester Town Council that she welcomed the many, younger faces to both the town council and Dorset Council and said that more needed to be done at the unitary authority to help new councillors carry out their council work – balancing it with jobs and families.

Almost all of the town council meetings are held in the evenings, with the exception of occasional site visits.

Cllr Jones said the new Lib Dem administration at County hall would be  looking at ways of holding more meetings at times other than during the traditional working day.

Cllr Andy Canning, who also holds seats on the town council and Dorset Council, said he was impressed by how keen the new councillors are – wanting to get on and make changes.

“It makes me very positive for the future,” he said.

Dorchester now has six town councillors which also serve on Dorset Council – Chair Stella Jones; Les Fry who is vice chair; Richard Biggs who is deputy leader and portfolio holder for property and assets, economic growth and levelling up; Andy Canning, place and resources overview committee chair and also chair of the Dorset-wide pension fund committee; David Taylor, a DC committee vice chair; and newly elected Rory Major.