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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Barking & Dagenham Council budget and spending

Barking & Dagenham Council had net current service expenditure of £584.2m in 2024-25, about £2,451 for each of its 238,295 residents. By total budget it is 63rd highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£584.2m
Spend per resident
£2,451
65th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
238,295
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
63rd
of 185 single-tier councils

This is the council budget only (net current service expenditure). NHS, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest are not included. In two-tier counties, education and social care sit with the county, not the district.

Where Barking & Dagenham Council spends its money

Barking & Dagenham Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£362.5m

    62.0% of the budget

  • Children's social care£80.5m

    13.8% of the budget

  • Adult social care£80.4m

    13.8% of the budget

  • Public health£18.4m

    3.2% of the budget

  • Housing£15.7m

    2.7% of the budget

  • Environment£13.2m

    2.3% of the budget

  • Planning£5.9m

    1.0% of the budget

  • Culture£4.4m

    0.7% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£3.6m

    0.6% of the budget

Single-tier councils (unitary, metropolitan, London borough and Scottish and Welsh councils) run every local service in their area, so they are compared with each other.

Benefits spending in Barking & Dagenham

Across six benefits, £714.1m was paid out in Barking & Dagenham in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,997 per resident. That is 20th highest of 315 areas per person and 52nd by total pounds, and 39.9% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Barking & Dagenham by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£510.8m
  • Personal Independence Payment£108.8m
  • Housing Benefit£62.1m
  • Disability Living Allowance£35.7m
  • Carer's Allowance£22.3m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£10.6m

Covers six benefits only: Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA. Excludes the State Pension, the largest welfare line. Compiled by the TaxPayers' Alliance from DWP Stat-Xplore, not a DWP borough publication. England and Wales, £133.1 billion in the 12 months to March 2026. Do not add this to the council budget: Housing Benefit is in both.

Councils with similar spend per resident

Barking & Dagenham Council: common questions

How much does Barking & Dagenham Council spend?

Barking & Dagenham Council had net current service expenditure of £584.2m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Barking & Dagenham Council spend per resident?

About £2,451 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £584.2m and an ONS population estimate of 238,295. That is 65th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Barking & Dagenham Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £362.5m, 62.0% of the 2024-25 budget.

How much of Barking & Dagenham Council's budget goes on social care?

Adult and children's social care together take 27.6% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Barking & Dagenham?

£714.1m was paid out in the 12 months to March 2026 on six benefits (Universal Credit, PIP, Housing Benefit, DLA, Carer's Allowance and ESA), about £2,997 per resident. That ranks 20th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.