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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Kirklees Council budget and spending

Kirklees Council had net current service expenditure of £801.3m in 2024-25, about £1,797 for each of its 445,832 residents. By total budget it is 24th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£801.3m
Spend per resident
£1,797
137th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
445,832
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
24th
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 Kirklees Council spends its money

Kirklees Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£366.6m

    45.7% of the budget

  • Adult social care£185.7m

    23.2% of the budget

  • Children's social care£97.0m

    12.1% of the budget

  • Environment£40.1m

    5.0% of the budget

  • Public health£32.9m

    4.1% of the budget

  • Central and other£28.0m

    3.5% of the budget

  • Housing£22.5m

    2.8% of the budget

  • Culture£16.9m

    2.1% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£5.9m

    0.7% of the budget

  • Planning£5.8m

    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 Kirklees

Across six benefits, £958.1m was paid out in Kirklees in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,149 per resident. That is 124th highest of 315 areas per person and 19th by total pounds, and 0.3% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Kirklees by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£595.3m
  • Personal Independence Payment£242.4m
  • Disability Living Allowance£51.6m
  • Housing Benefit£47.4m
  • Carer's Allowance£38.3m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£37.9m

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

Kirklees Council: common questions

How much does Kirklees Council spend?

Kirklees Council had net current service expenditure of £801.3m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Kirklees Council spend per resident?

About £1,797 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £801.3m and an ONS population estimate of 445,832. That is 137th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Kirklees Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £366.6m, 45.7% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 35.3% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Kirklees?

£958.1m 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 £2,149 per resident. That ranks 124th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.