COUNCIL tax in North Dorset could rise by around 40 per cent over the next five years to bring it more in line with the national average.

Councillors at North Dorset District Council met on Wednesday to discuss the financial projection for the next five years, which could see council tax almost doubling.

A band D householder in North Dorset currently pays £79.50 a month but a series of gradual increases could be introduced, bringing it more in line with the national average of £137.

Until now interest from the capital generated from the sale of council houses has enabled the council to subsidise their income and keep council tax low. But as that capital is used to fund various projects in the area such as social housing provision and community projects, the interest looks set to reduce and funding will need to be found from elsewhere to make up the shortfall.

Cllr Peter Webb, said: "A lot of fuss is made about percentage increases but we are talking very small numbers - it could mean as little as an extra £1.30 a week and the rise would be spread over five years.

"Most people are focusing on the rise being more than inflation but in truth we hope to keep it below the average.

"The options we have to consider as a district council is when and how much of our spare money we use to subsidise the Council Tax.

"For the past 10 years it has been a little over half the national average for a district council but our costs are not half and the council has been subsidising heavily.

"Nothing has been decided, nothing will be decided until the budget is set early next year."

The issue was the focus of discussions at a meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny committee meeting but is not something councillors will decide upon for a number of months.

First published: August 27