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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Reading Council budget and spending

Reading Council had net current service expenditure of £353.8m in 2024-25, about £1,925 for each of its 183,762 residents. By total budget it is 132nd highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£353.8m
Spend per resident
£1,925
115th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
183,762
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
132nd
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 Reading Council spends its money

Reading Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£141.9m

    40.1% of the budget

  • Adult social care£72.7m

    20.5% of the budget

  • Children's social care£63.1m

    17.8% of the budget

  • Environment£21.6m

    6.1% of the budget

  • Central and other£14.5m

    4.1% of the budget

  • Public health£12.7m

    3.6% of the budget

  • Housing£10.7m

    3.0% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£9.0m

    2.5% of the budget

  • Culture£5.1m

    1.4% of the budget

  • Planning£2.6m

    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 Reading

Across six benefits, £345.3m was paid out in Reading in the 12 months to March 2026, about £1,879 per resident. That is 165th highest of 315 areas per person and 129th by total pounds, and 12.3% below the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Reading by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£230.1m
  • Personal Independence Payment£58.2m
  • Housing Benefit£34.0m
  • Disability Living Allowance£21.7m
  • Carer's Allowance£9.6m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£8.1m

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

Reading Council: common questions

How much does Reading Council spend?

Reading Council had net current service expenditure of £353.8m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Reading Council spend per resident?

About £1,925 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £353.8m and an ONS population estimate of 183,762. That is 115th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Reading Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £141.9m, 40.1% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 38.4% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Reading?

£345.3m 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 £1,879 per resident. That ranks 165th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.