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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Blackpool Council budget and spending

Blackpool Council had net current service expenditure of £291.1m in 2024-25, about £2,029 for each of its 143,492 residents. By total budget it is 156th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£291.1m
Spend per resident
£2,029
94th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
143,492
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
156th
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 Blackpool Council spends its money

Blackpool Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Children's social care£85.8m

    29.5% of the budget

  • Adult social care£76.7m

    26.3% of the budget

  • Education£65.3m

    22.4% of the budget

  • Environment£21.1m

    7.2% of the budget

  • Public health£20.4m

    7.0% of the budget

  • Culture£8.1m

    2.8% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£7.7m

    2.6% of the budget

  • Housing£5.2m

    1.8% of the budget

  • Planning£2.5m

    0.9% 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 Blackpool

Across six benefits, £506.7m was paid out in Blackpool in the 12 months to March 2026, about £3,531 per resident. That is 4th highest of 315 areas per person and 85th by total pounds, and 64.8% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Blackpool by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£302.9m
  • Personal Independence Payment£130.1m
  • Housing Benefit£29.4m
  • Disability Living Allowance£29.0m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£19.6m
  • Carer's Allowance£17.1m

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

Blackpool Council: common questions

How much does Blackpool Council spend?

Blackpool Council had net current service expenditure of £291.1m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Blackpool Council spend per resident?

About £2,029 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £291.1m and an ONS population estimate of 143,492. That is 94th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Blackpool Council spend most on?

Children's social care is the largest service line at £85.8m, 29.5% of the 2024-25 budget.

How much of Blackpool Council's budget goes on social care?

Adult and children's social care together take 55.8% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Blackpool?

£506.7m 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 £3,531 per resident. That ranks 4th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.