Dorset: "Sun, sea and stonkingly large council tax bills - Dorset has the highest charges in England"

From Ali Hussain,The Sunday Times, Money, April 22, 2018 

Sun, sea and stonkingly large council tax bills - Dorset has the highest charges in England, but there is a good reason for it.

"The Dorset countryside is famed for its natural beauty and Jurassic Coast, but the region has also acquired a more dubious distinction: it has the most expensive council tax in England, according to analysis for Money by the TaxPayers’ Alliance pressure group.

The tranquillity and glorious weather that many were enjoying last week was punctured by disgruntled locals as they responded to the news.

“There are still potholes on the roads,” said a newsagent in Wareham, Dorset, who had just been told that residents in her area have endured some of the biggest increases in council tax since the charge was introduced 25 years ago. “And there are fewer police on the streets than there used to be.”

More:

"Parts of Dorset have the highest population of over-65s in England, compounded by an increase in the numbers of dementia sufferers with high care costs", said councillor Tont Ferrari, cabinet member for community resources at Dorset county council."

See also, Peter Conradi, Sunday Times, April 22, 2018:

In spite of the huge Council Tax hike, the Dorset Echo reports (April 23) that 'the growing elderly population could threaten future council services".


Dorset County Council Tax 2018/19

"The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has made an offer to adult social care authorities. ("Adult social care authorities" are local authorities which have functions under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, namely county councils in England, district councils for an area in England for which there is no county council, London borough councils, the Common Council of the City of London and the Council of the Isles of Scilly.)

The offer is the option of an adult social care authority being able to charge an additional "precept" on its council tax for financial years from the financial year beginning in 2016 without holding a referendum, to assist the authority in meeting expenditure on adult social care. Subject to the annual approval of the House of Commons, the Secretary of State intends to offer the option of charging this "precept" at an appropriate level in each financial year up to and including the financial year 2019-20".


See also, Your Dorset, page 2