This Council Plan is still in draft and has not yet been officially approved. Following further feedback and changes, the final version of the Council Plan will be adopted and published here in December.
Dorset Council provides around 450 different services to 380,000 residents. Waste collection, road maintenance, planning, housing, libraries, and adults and children’s social care are just some of the vital services which support the smooth running of our local communities. 
We work closely with many partners and deliver some services through strategic partnerships, such as the Integrated Care System.
A refuse worker taking a recycling bin to the bin lorry
We carry out 23,692,500 household waste collections a year.
A highways officer digging up a road
We maintain 2,400 miles of road, fix around 20,000 potholes, apply 100 miles of surface treatment and resurface around 5.5 miles of footways and cycleways every year.
A refuse worker with a bin
2% of waste goes to landfill, with a recycling and composting rate at 58.9 per cent, putting us in the top three unitary councils in England.
A lady working in an office processing planning applications
We process over 4,000 planning applications a year. 
An image of two folders being exhanged with faces on
We support 1,804 children in need. This includes looking after 300 children with a Child Protection Plan.
Hands holding a letter that is titled 'cost of living'
We support thousands of residents struggling with the cost of living crisis, including administering funding of £20 million for free school meals, supermarket vouchers and help for food projects, utility costs and housing.  
A lady speaking to a man in a wheelchair
Adult social services give direct support to 4,048 people and delivered 13,831 hours of home care.
library books and using a library app on a smartphone
In the last year our libraries issued over 1 million books and 500,000 e-resources and hosted 87,000 attendees at events like author talks, rhyme time sessions and code club.
People outside a new build home
In 2023/24 the council helped deliver 508 new affordable homes. 
A man who is sat on the floor with a box
In one year, more than 4,000 households approached the council as homeless or at risk of homelessness.
A hand holding a folder with the title 'housing register'
There are 5,700 households on the housing register. 
Hands typing on a laptop searching for housing
We support housing associations to deliver new affordable homes. There are 22,000 housing association homes in the Dorset Council area.  
two people watering and gardening
The council cares for 1,010 people with a learning disability and 363 people with mental health related conditions.
A lady doing a yoga pose
4,192 Dorset Council residents were supported to make positive healthy lifestyle changes through LiveWell Dorset. Quitting smoking, cutting down on alcohol, managing weight or becoming more active.