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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Cornwall Council budget and spending

Cornwall Council had net current service expenditure of £1.0bn in 2024-25, about £1,766 for each of its 584,782 residents. By total budget it is 11th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£1.0bn
Spend per resident
£1,766
141st of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
584,782
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
11th
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 Cornwall Council spends its money

Cornwall Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Adult social care£320.4m

    31.0% of the budget

  • Education£297.3m

    28.8% of the budget

  • Children's social care£123.3m

    11.9% of the budget

  • Environment£88.1m

    8.5% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£46.5m

    4.5% of the budget

  • Housing£42.4m

    4.1% of the budget

  • Public health£37.3m

    3.6% of the budget

  • Fire£31.2m

    3.0% of the budget

  • Central and other£20.4m

    2.0% of the budget

  • Culture£16.6m

    1.6% of the budget

  • Planning£9.0m

    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 Cornwall

Across six benefits, £1.2bn was paid out in Cornwall in the 12 months to March 2026, about £1,970 per resident. That is 148th highest of 315 areas per person and 9th by total pounds, and 8.0% below the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Cornwall by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£647.9m
  • Personal Independence Payment£302.7m
  • Housing Benefit£89.7m
  • Disability Living Allowance£73.3m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£50.6m
  • Carer's Allowance£36.5m

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

Cornwall Council: common questions

How much does Cornwall Council spend?

Cornwall 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 Cornwall Council spend per resident?

About £1,766 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £1.0bn and an ONS population estimate of 584,782. That is 141st highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Cornwall Council spend most on?

Adult social care is the largest service line at £320.4m, 31.0% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 43.0% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Cornwall?

£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 £1,970 per resident. That ranks 148th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.