England · single-tier councils · 2024-25
Nottingham City Council budget and spending
Nottingham City Council had net current service expenditure of £660.7m in 2024-25, about £2,028 for each of its 325,765 residents. By total budget it is 48th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
- Net service spending, 2024-25
- £660.7m
- Spend per resident
- £2,028
- 95th of 185 single-tier councils
- Population (mid-2025)
- 325,765
- ONS mid-year estimate
- Rank by total budget
- 48th
- 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 Nottingham City Council in financial difficulty?
Nottingham City Council issued a Section 114 notice (Nov 2023) and was agreed Exceptional Financial Support of £25m 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 Nottingham City Council spends its money
- Education£179.7m
27.2% of the budget
- Adult social care£155.9m
23.6% of the budget
- Children's social care£130.9m
19.8% of the budget
- Central and other£41.9m
6.3% of the budget
- Public health£38.5m
5.8% of the budget
- Environment£33.0m
5.0% of the budget
- Highways and transport£31.6m
4.8% of the budget
- Housing£25.2m
3.8% of the budget
- Planning£14.6m
2.2% of the budget
- Culture£9.4m
1.4% 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 Nottingham City
Across six benefits, £978.1m was paid out in Nottingham City in the 12 months to March 2026, about £3,002 per resident. That is 19th highest of 315 areas per person and 18th by total pounds, and 40.2% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.
- Universal Credit£605.8m
- Personal Independence Payment£221.4m
- Housing Benefit£89.7m
- Disability Living Allowance£47.8m
- Employment and Support Allowance£31.3m
- Carer's Allowance£30.8m
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
Nottingham City Council: common questions
How much does Nottingham City Council spend?
Nottingham City Council had net current service expenditure of £660.7m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.
How much does Nottingham City Council spend per resident?
About £2,028 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £660.7m and an ONS population estimate of 325,765. That is 95th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
What does Nottingham City Council spend most on?
Education is the largest service line at £179.7m, 27.2% of the 2024-25 budget.
How much of Nottingham City Council's budget goes on social care?
Adult and children's social care together take 43.4% of net service spending in 2024-25.
How much is spent on benefits in Nottingham City?
£978.1m 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 £3,002 per resident. That ranks 19th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.
Is Nottingham City Council in financial difficulty?
Nottingham City Council issued a Section 114 notice (Nov 2023) and was agreed Exceptional Financial Support of £25m for 2025-26, according to public reporting and MHCLG.