England · single-tier councils · 2024-25
Newham Council budget and spending
Newham Council had net current service expenditure of £760.9m in 2024-25, about £2,021 for each of its 376,542 residents. By total budget it is 30th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
- Net service spending, 2024-25
- £760.9m
- Spend per resident
- £2,021
- 97th of 185 single-tier councils
- Population (mid-2025)
- 376,542
- ONS mid-year estimate
- Rank by total budget
- 30th
- 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.
Is Newham Council in financial difficulty?
Newham Council was agreed Exceptional Financial Support of £51.2m for 2025-26, according to public reporting and MHCLG.
The council outturn data carries no deficit field, so this comes from public reporting on Section 114 notices and MHCLG Exceptional Financial Support rather than from the budget figures on this page.
Where Newham Council spends its money
- Education£321.9m
42.3% of the budget
- Adult social care£143.0m
18.8% of the budget
- Children's social care£113.8m
15.0% of the budget
- Housing£84.8m
11.2% of the budget
- Public health£36.8m
4.8% of the budget
- Environment£28.5m
3.8% of the budget
- Central and other£21.1m
2.8% of the budget
- Culture£15.1m
2.0% of the budget
- Planning£5.8m
0.8% 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 Newham
Across six benefits, £1.1bn was paid out in Newham in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,958 per resident. That is 25th highest of 315 areas per person and 10th by total pounds, and 38.1% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.
- Universal Credit£781.0m
- Personal Independence Payment£150.8m
- Housing Benefit£137.8m
- Disability Living Allowance£47.3m
- Carer's Allowance£32.5m
- Employment and Support Allowance£14.2m
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
Newham Council: common questions
How much does Newham Council spend?
Newham Council had net current service expenditure of £760.9m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.
How much does Newham Council spend per resident?
About £2,021 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £760.9m and an ONS population estimate of 376,542. That is 97th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
What does Newham Council spend most on?
Education is the largest service line at £321.9m, 42.3% of the 2024-25 budget.
How much of Newham Council's budget goes on social care?
Adult and children's social care together take 33.7% of net service spending in 2024-25.
How much is spent on benefits in Newham?
£1.1bn 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 £2,958 per resident. That ranks 25th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.
Is Newham Council in financial difficulty?
Newham Council was agreed Exceptional Financial Support of £51.2m for 2025-26, according to public reporting and MHCLG.