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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Blackburn with Darwen Council budget and spending

Blackburn with Darwen Council had net current service expenditure of £348.2m in 2024-25, about £2,126 for each of its 163,801 residents. By total budget it is 137th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£348.2m
Spend per resident
£2,126
82nd of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
163,801
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
137th
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 Blackburn with Darwen Council spends its money

Blackburn with Darwen Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£151.5m

    43.5% of the budget

  • Adult social care£72.7m

    20.9% of the budget

  • Children's social care£54.3m

    15.6% of the budget

  • Public health£18.6m

    5.4% of the budget

  • Environment£15.5m

    4.5% of the budget

  • Central and other£11.9m

    3.4% of the budget

  • Culture£10.7m

    3.1% of the budget

  • Planning£4.9m

    1.4% of the budget

  • Housing£4.7m

    1.3% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£3.5m

    1.0% 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 Blackburn with Darwen

Across six benefits, £447.0m was paid out in Blackburn with Darwen in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,729 per resident. That is 44th highest of 315 areas per person and 101st by total pounds, and 27.4% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Blackburn with Darwen by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£279.9m
  • Personal Independence Payment£109.0m
  • Disability Living Allowance£27.1m
  • Housing Benefit£24.1m
  • Carer's Allowance£19.1m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£14.7m

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

Blackburn with Darwen Council: common questions

How much does Blackburn with Darwen Council spend?

Blackburn with Darwen Council had net current service expenditure of £348.2m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Blackburn with Darwen Council spend per resident?

About £2,126 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £348.2m and an ONS population estimate of 163,801. That is 82nd highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Blackburn with Darwen Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £151.5m, 43.5% of the 2024-25 budget.

How much of Blackburn with Darwen Council's budget goes on social care?

Adult and children's social care together take 36.5% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Blackburn with Darwen?

£447.0m 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 £2,729 per resident. That ranks 44th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.