Parking permits offer big savings for Dorset residents and workers
With recent rises in some public car parks in busy tourist areas, Dorset Council is urging people to check the cost benefits of its permits.
Dredged sediment poses no risk to health.
Analysis of the sediment deposited on Lyme Regis Front Town beach from the annual dredging in March this year shows that there is nothing that could be a risk to human or marine life.
Joint Overview Committee to review draft library strategy
A new draft strategy for Dorset Council’s libraries has just been published, with a fresh approach to delivering services and no proposed branch closures.
Foster Carer walk to raise awareness
On Saturday 20 May, Dorset Council’s fostering service hosted a group dog walk along Weymouth Esplanade to raise awareness of Dorset’s need for more foster carers. Dorset Council foster carers attended, alongside members of the fostering team, with many people bringing family members, children, and of course their beloved dogs. The walk started at Lodmoor… Read more Foster Carer walk to raise awareness
Dorset towns and parishes apply for new 20mph limits and zones
Five town and parish councils in the Dorset Council area are a step closer to implementing new 20mph speed limits and zones.
Foster Care Fortnight: Meet our foster carers
Have you considered fostering? If so, meet Jo. Jo has fostered with us for over two and a half years and has looked after over 20 children during this time, providing emergency, respite and day care placements for children and young people in Dorset. Meet Jo Jo Wheeler, aged 49, lives in North Dorset. She… Read more Foster Care Fortnight: Meet our foster carers
Amber alert for Wildfire issued, covering all of Dorset
The Natural Hazards Partnership (NHP) issued an Amber alert for the risk of wildfires over the weekend (Saturday 20 May 2023). This means that the weather and ground conditions give a higher likelihood of wildfire, and that any fire that broke out would potentially be difficult to control.
Car Boot generates cash for the community!
Last year the Dorchester Market Car Boot Fund awarded over £24,000 worth of grants to community organisations in the Dorchester area. Pre-school clubs, sports clubs, youth projects, projects for people with disabilities or long-term health related issues and projects tackling social isolation were among those that benefitted from the funding. Dorset Council collected the income… Read more Car Boot generates cash for the community!
Another opportunity for voluntary and community groups to apply to the Dorset Youth Grant
Young people are to benefit for another year from a £100,000 fund through Dorset Council Youth organisations. The fund supports a range of activities for young people with grants being offered from £500 to £5,000. Applications must be submitted by Wednesday 14 June to be considered. Organisations working with young people can apply for grants… Read more Another opportunity for voluntary and community groups to apply to the Dorset Youth Grant
Foster Care Fortnight: Meet our foster carers
This Foster Care Fortnight, we want to shine a light on some of the foster carers who are changing the lives of Dorset’s children and young people.
Affordable housing for local people handed over in Langton Matravers
A new development of affordable housing created for the local community has been handed over to the residents of Spyway Orchard, Langton Matravers.
Feeding Dorset Event, celebrating outstanding food projects in Dorset
Dorset Council, Public Health Dorset and Help And Kindness collaboratively hosted an event to celebrate the outstanding food projects that have made a significant impact on communities across Dorset. The event, called Feeding Dorset, was hosted at the Corn Exchange, Dorchester, at the end of April. Feeding Dorset brought together a wide range of initiatives,… Read more Feeding Dorset Event, celebrating outstanding food projects in Dorset
Celebrating our foster carers and supported lodgings carers
Foster carers and supported lodgings carers in Dorset were recognised at an award ceremony recently for the huge difference they have made to the lives of children and young people by offering them safe and loving homes. The award categories ranged from recognising long service from 5 years and over through to the Pioneer Award.… Read more Celebrating our foster carers and supported lodgings carers
Have your say on planning climate change documents
Dorset Council is currently consulting on several guidance documents on planning for climate change.
Parking machines to be upgraded
All our car park and on-street pay and display machines are to be replaced starting in Park Street, Weymouth on Tuesday 9 May 2023.
Position statement on Home Office asylum barge plan
Joint statement from Dorset Council and Dorset Police Dorset Council and Dorset Police have set out their shared position on the Home Office’s plans to house asylum seekers on a barge in Portland Port later this year.
Dorset Council Cabinet reshuffle
Cllr Spencer Flower, Leader of Dorset Council, has made changes to his Cabinet. The following appointments come into effect from 1 May 2023. Cllr Flower will provide further commentary on these changes at the Annual Council meeting on 11 May.Cabinet members: Cllr Spencer Flower – Leader and Portfolio Holder – Governance, Performance & Communications Cllr… Read more Dorset Council Cabinet reshuffle
Round 4 of the Household Support Fund reopens for applications
Round 4 of the Household Support Fund (HSF) will reopen for applications at 9am on Wednesday 3 May 2023 for low-income households in the Dorset Council area.
Local Offer Live announced for 15 – 26 May
Local Offer Live 2023 Local Offer Live is taking place between 15 -26 May, and will feature a range of virtual events, activities, performances and workshops for parents, carers of children and young people with special educational needs or disability, providing greater awareness of the local opportunities that may be available to them. The two-week… Read more Local Offer Live announced for 15 – 26 May
New funding round to help improve community facilities in Dorset.
The latest round of the Capital Leverage Fund which is managed by Dorset Council, is now open and welcoming applications for projects which will provide new and improved facilities for our communities and residents.
Dorset Council cuts the ribbon on new housing in Blandford Forum
A pledge to reduce Dorset Council’s dependence on bed and breakfast accommodation took a step closer thanks to an ambitious redevelopment of a former empty home in Blandford Forum.
Weymouth railway station improvements get seal of approval
Councillors and officers from Dorset Council, Richard Drax MP, Chris Loder MP and the managing directors for South Western Railway and Network Rail (Wessex) officially opened Weymouth’s recently improved railway station on Friday, 21 April.
Calling all property professionals, forum re-starts for 2023
Property professionals, particularly landlords and letting agents or those thinking of joining the profession, are invited to kickstart the 2023 Landlord Forums on 18th May. Tickets have sold out already, but you can still attend online.
Landscape gardener prosecuted for fly-tipping waste near Dorchester
Today (Thursday 20 April), Dorset Council’s Waste Enforcement and Legal teams have successfully prosecuted another fly-tipper.
Over 96% of Dorset children are offered their first preference school
Parents and carers in the Dorset Council area were able to find out on Mon 17 April which place in reception, junior or middle school their children will be joining in September 2023. Those offered their first preference has increased to just under 97 per cent from just under 95 per cent last year. 96%… Read more Over 96% of Dorset children are offered their first preference school
King’s Big Help Out call for Dorset volunteers.
From rolling up their sleeves to help a local group, to supporting some of the UK’s best-known national charities, the Big Help Out on Monday 8 May will see thousands of people coming together to volunteer for their local communities.
Litter Free Dorset Event to Recycle Thousands of Disposable Barbecues
Litter Free Dorset is working with Southern Co-op and W&S Recycling to dismantle and recycle 8,000 disposable barbecues as a reminder of how destructive they can be to the environment.
Doors open to affordable homes in Weymouth.
New homes in Weymouth are the latest example of how Dorset Council is working in partnership with both housing developers and registered providers to deliver affordable homes for local people.
Dorset foster carers get above inflation uplift in financial payments
Dorset Council foster carers and supported lodgings carers now benefit from an increase to their financial payment of 15 per cent from 1 April with a further increase of 12.43 per cent being added to the allowance part of the payment.
Livestock haulier guilty of causing injury to young calves
A livestock haulier who transported 35 calves from a farm in Dorset to a slaughterhouse in Wiltshire has been found guilty of causing them unnecessary suffering.
