THE budget for the new Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council was approved yesterday.

The combined authority will have a gross expenditure of £735 million over the next financial year, with £526m planned in income before council tax is calculated.

More than two thirds of the budget will cover rising costs in adult and children's social care.

Members also approved separate council tax plans for the three boroughs, to contribute the remaining £210m.

This was not unanimous however, as Christchurch representatives on the BCP shadow executive committee voted against the proposals for their borough.

Cllr David Flagg said: "There is a difference in staff pay scales across the three councils and the objective is equal pay for equal work. I feel it is a great shame BCP couldn't have applied that principle to council tax harmonisation from day one, with people across BCP paying the same for the services being provided."

He and Cllr Trish Jamieson voted against the proposed tax for Christchurch, the borough council having previously voted to push for 'day one harmonisation'.

However the remainder of the committee backed the tax changes. Theses will see Poole council tax raised by 2.99 per cent to £1,442 for a Band D property. Bournemouth residents face a rise of 2.4 per cent to £1,473.

Christchurch residents will pay £1,598.

Bournemouth council leader John Beesley, who headed up the tax task and finish group, said Christchurch residents would be paying "£8.86" less than in the current year, excluding any precept required by the planned parish councils.

Addressing the budget he said: "These are very big figures, as this will be quite a large authority employing over 4,000 staff."

He said social care demands would "leave very little for essential day-to-day services residents expect us to deliver", however he was confident the council would be able to budget for such demands.