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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Herefordshire Council budget and spending

Herefordshire Council had net current service expenditure of £363.3m in 2024-25, about £1,887 for each of its 192,539 residents. By total budget it is 130th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£363.3m
Spend per resident
£1,887
120th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
192,539
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
130th
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 Herefordshire Council spends its money

Herefordshire Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£133.9m

    36.9% of the budget

  • Adult social care£94.3m

    26.0% of the budget

  • Children's social care£68.3m

    18.8% of the budget

  • Environment£18.0m

    4.9% of the budget

  • Public health£12.1m

    3.3% of the budget

  • Planning£11.4m

    3.1% of the budget

  • Housing£9.5m

    2.6% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£6.3m

    1.7% of the budget

  • Culture£5.5m

    1.5% of the budget

  • Central and other£4.0m

    1.1% 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 Herefordshire

Across six benefits, £299.7m was paid out in Herefordshire in the 12 months to March 2026, about £1,557 per resident. That is 221st highest of 315 areas per person and 142nd by total pounds, and 27.3% below the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Herefordshire by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£164.6m
  • Personal Independence Payment£81.9m
  • Housing Benefit£22.9m
  • Disability Living Allowance£19.6m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£15.1m
  • Carer's Allowance£10.0m

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

Herefordshire Council: common questions

How much does Herefordshire Council spend?

Herefordshire Council had net current service expenditure of £363.3m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Herefordshire Council spend per resident?

About £1,887 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £363.3m and an ONS population estimate of 192,539. That is 120th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Herefordshire Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £133.9m, 36.9% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 44.8% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Herefordshire?

£299.7m 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 £1,557 per resident. That ranks 221st of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.