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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Brent Council budget and spending

Brent Council had net current service expenditure of £677.7m in 2024-25, about £1,924 for each of its 352,201 residents. By total budget it is 45th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£677.7m
Spend per resident
£1,924
116th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
352,201
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
45th
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 Brent Council spends its money

Brent Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£284.5m

    42.0% of the budget

  • Adult social care£133.9m

    19.8% of the budget

  • Children's social care£88.4m

    13.0% of the budget

  • Housing£57.6m

    8.5% of the budget

  • Environment£36.1m

    5.3% of the budget

  • Central and other£31.0m

    4.6% of the budget

  • Public health£24.3m

    3.6% of the budget

  • Culture£10.4m

    1.5% of the budget

  • Planning£7.0m

    1.0% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£4.5m

    0.7% 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 Brent

Across six benefits, £1.2bn was paid out in Brent in the 12 months to March 2026, about £3,431 per resident. That is 7th highest of 315 areas per person and 8th by total pounds, and 60.2% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Brent by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£882.7m
  • Personal Independence Payment£152.5m
  • Housing Benefit£145.6m
  • Disability Living Allowance£36.3m
  • Carer's Allowance£29.8m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£15.7m

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

Brent Council: common questions

How much does Brent Council spend?

Brent Council had net current service expenditure of £677.7m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Brent Council spend per resident?

About £1,924 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £677.7m and an ONS population estimate of 352,201. That is 116th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Brent Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £284.5m, 42.0% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 32.8% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Brent?

£1.2bn 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 £3,431 per resident. That ranks 7th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.