Councillors have agreed to create an officer role to help improve health and wellbeing in West Dorset.

West Dorset District Council’s strategy committee agreed to approve the creation of a Health and Wellbeing Locality Officer.

The new role will cost the council £70,000 to facilitate, however, it is hoped the officer will help to improve the health of the workforce, and tackle health inequalities in West Dorset.

It comes after similar roles have been created across the county.

Graham Duggan, Head of Community Protection, said: “This is being done in other parts of Dorset, including Christchurch and Weymouth and Portland, however, in West Dorset we are behind the agenda.

“This is also a piece of work that should be taken to ensure that the health and wellbeing element of the current plan is working properly and is relayed out across all our functions.”

Councillors were strongly in favour of creating the post.

Councillor Stella Jones said: “I would like to support this it is important we have someone to help support wellbeing of residents of district of West Dorset.”

A report put before councillors says: “By establishing a dedicated resource to a new role of Health and Wellbeing Locality Officer, the council would be demonstrating its commitment to the health and wellbeing of West Dorset residents. It would also demonstrate commitment to partners including Dorset CCG and Dorset Public Health.”

The role will be created for a two-year period and is calculated at £35,000 a year. Funding is not available within the existing budgets, so it will require funding from reserves.

Consultations will take place with trade unions to help develop the final role description.

However, it is understood the officer will network with local groups in Dorset to share good practice and make sure communities have a voice in health and wellbeing work.

The officer will also inspect Dorset Councils’ Partnership’s contributions to health and wellbeing and advise on service improvements and develop performance measures and reporting lines involving elected members and officer leads.

The new post is set to be established from April 1.