COUNCILLORS have agreed a rise in council tax for Dorset as well as cuts of £15million.

In proposing the budget for the 2014/15 financial year county council leader Spencer Flower said members needed to ‘embrace change’ of a radical nature as it sought to face the challenges it encounters in coming years.

The council leader also proposed a council tax rise of 1.99 per cent for the coming year, after the authority had frozen the charge for the last three years in exchange for a grant from central government.

The rise will see the charge for a Band D mid range property rise from £23.25 from £1,168.29 to £1,191.54.

Coun Flower said: “This council, along with many other councils, has reached the point where further reductions in funding are likely to have a serious impact on the delivery of front line services.”

The council tax rise and budget were approved, with the Conservative majority on the council ensuring all proposals were passed.

See Friday's Dorset Echo for more.