England · single-tier councils · 2024-25
Brighton & Hove Council budget and spending
Brighton & Hove Council had net current service expenditure of £603.5m in 2024-25, about £2,124 for each of its 284,170 residents. By total budget it is 58th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
- Net service spending, 2024-25
- £603.5m
- Spend per resident
- £2,124
- 83rd of 185 single-tier councils
- Population (mid-2025)
- 284,170
- ONS mid-year estimate
- Rank by total budget
- 58th
- 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 Brighton & Hove Council spends its money
- Education£256.5m
42.5% of the budget
- Adult social care£149.8m
24.8% of the budget
- Children's social care£72.4m
12.0% of the budget
- Environment£36.0m
6.0% of the budget
- Public health£29.4m
4.9% of the budget
- Housing£28.9m
4.8% of the budget
- Culture£20.1m
3.3% of the budget
- Planning£9.4m
1.6% of the budget
- Central and other£4.4m
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 Brighton & Hove
Across six benefits, £680.4m was paid out in Brighton & Hove in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,394 per resident. That is 88th highest of 315 areas per person and 60th by total pounds, and 11.8% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.
- Universal Credit£405.2m
- Personal Independence Payment£139.5m
- Housing Benefit£82.4m
- Disability Living Allowance£40.8m
- Employment and Support Allowance£20.3m
- Carer's Allowance£15.1m
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
Brighton & Hove Council: common questions
How much does Brighton & Hove Council spend?
Brighton & Hove Council had net current service expenditure of £603.5m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.
How much does Brighton & Hove Council spend per resident?
About £2,124 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £603.5m and an ONS population estimate of 284,170. That is 83rd highest of 185 single-tier councils.
What does Brighton & Hove Council spend most on?
Education is the largest service line at £256.5m, 42.5% of the 2024-25 budget.
How much of Brighton & Hove Council's budget goes on social care?
Adult and children's social care together take 36.8% of net service spending in 2024-25.
How much is spent on benefits in Brighton & Hove?
£680.4m 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 £2,394 per resident. That ranks 88th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.