NumbersDeckOpen the map

England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Medway Towns Council budget and spending

Medway Towns Council had net current service expenditure of £460.9m in 2024-25, about £1,575 for each of its 292,697 residents. By total budget it is 99th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£460.9m
Spend per resident
£1,575
169th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
292,697
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
99th
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 Medway Towns Council spends its money

Medway Towns Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£141.0m

    30.6% of the budget

  • Adult social care£110.3m

    23.9% of the budget

  • Children's social care£93.6m

    20.3% of the budget

  • Environment£35.4m

    7.7% of the budget

  • Public health£20.1m

    4.4% of the budget

  • Culture£17.1m

    3.7% of the budget

  • Housing£16.3m

    3.5% of the budget

  • Central and other£13.0m

    2.8% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£9.6m

    2.1% of the budget

  • Planning£4.4m

    1.0% 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 Medway Towns

Across six benefits, £663.5m was paid out in Medway Towns in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,267 per resident. That is 108th highest of 315 areas per person and 64th by total pounds, and 5.8% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Medway Towns by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£408.7m
  • Personal Independence Payment£148.7m
  • Housing Benefit£49.4m
  • Disability Living Allowance£47.9m
  • Carer's Allowance£24.4m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£19.3m

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

Medway Towns Council: common questions

How much does Medway Towns Council spend?

Medway Towns Council had net current service expenditure of £460.9m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Medway Towns Council spend per resident?

About £1,575 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £460.9m and an ONS population estimate of 292,697. That is 169th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Medway Towns Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £141.0m, 30.6% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 44.3% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Medway Towns?

£663.5m 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 £2,267 per resident. That ranks 108th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.