NumbersDeckOpen the map

England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Bradford Council budget and spending

Bradford Council had net current service expenditure of £1.0bn in 2024-25, about £1,837 for each of its 557,758 residents. By total budget it is 13th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£1.0bn
Spend per resident
£1,837
130th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
557,758
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
13th
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.

Is Bradford Council in financial difficulty?

Bradford Council was agreed Exceptional Financial Support of £127.1m for 2025-26, according to public reporting and MHCLG.

The council outturn data carries no deficit field, so this comes from public reporting on Section 114 notices and MHCLG Exceptional Financial Support rather than from the budget figures on this page.

Where Bradford Council spends its money

Bradford Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£356.4m

    34.8% of the budget

  • Children's social care£255.2m

    24.9% of the budget

  • Adult social care£209.6m

    20.5% of the budget

  • Public health£54.9m

    5.4% of the budget

  • Environment£50.5m

    4.9% of the budget

  • Central and other£24.0m

    2.3% of the budget

  • Culture£22.9m

    2.2% of the budget

  • Planning£22.3m

    2.2% of the budget

  • Housing£18.5m

    1.8% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£10.2m

    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 Bradford

Across six benefits, £1.5bn was paid out in Bradford in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,755 per resident. That is 41st highest of 315 areas per person and 5th by total pounds, and 28.6% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Bradford by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£991.4m
  • Personal Independence Payment£350.2m
  • Disability Living Allowance£85.9m
  • Housing Benefit£81.4m
  • Carer's Allowance£79.8m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£42.7m

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

Bradford Council: common questions

How much does Bradford Council spend?

Bradford Council had net current service expenditure of £1.0bn in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Bradford Council spend per resident?

About £1,837 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £1.0bn and an ONS population estimate of 557,758. That is 130th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Bradford Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £356.4m, 34.8% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 45.4% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Bradford?

£1.5bn 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 £2,755 per resident. That ranks 41st of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.

Is Bradford Council in financial difficulty?

Bradford Council was agreed Exceptional Financial Support of £127.1m for 2025-26, according to public reporting and MHCLG.