CALLS have been made for Dorset Council to focus its resources on the county’s most deprived communities.

The pleas, in comments on the draft Dorset Council Plan, reinforce appeals made in 2019 for the new council to invest more in poorer areas, including moving some of its jobs from Dorchester to Weymouth and Portland.

Several former borough councillors and community campaigners then suggested the switch of council jobs to Weymouth and Portland as a way of reinvigorating the local economy and also reducing the daily commute for many residents who make the daily trek to Dorchester for work.

The idea is not specifically included in the draft Dorset Council Plan which will be signed off next month.

The draft plan, being discussed at Cabinet in Dorchester tomorrow, reports that several people suggested the council focus on Dorset’s economically deprived places.

Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting will be told that seven neighbourhoods in Dorset fall in the top 20 per cent for income deprivation, up from five in 2010, all in Weymouth and Portland. It also says that there are 66 areas covered by Dorset Council among the most deprived nationally for access to housing and services.

The gap in life expectancy in the rural county between the most deprived areas and the least deprived is six years for men and 5.2 for women with 2,800 children in Dorset living in workless households.

One in five residents consider they have a long-term health problem or disability with the rates said to be ‘significantly higher’ in Weymouth. More Dorset residents, around 12 per cent, compared to the national average of 10%, are classed as unpaid carers. The county also has a much higher elderly population than the national average and acknowledged poor public transport, especially in the rural areas.

“As a result of the equality impact assessment and the feedback from the conversation, changes have been made to the Dorset Council Plan to be clear what the council will do to address inequalities where possible,” said a report to be presented by chief executive Matt Prosser.

The summary of the consultation says that people generally supported the council’s five overall priorities relating to economic growth; the unique environment; suitable housing; strong, healthy communities; and staying safe and well.

The draft will be going to full council on February 18 following discussion at the Cabinet on January 28.