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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Slough Council budget and spending

Slough Council had net current service expenditure of £272.3m in 2024-25, about £1,626 for each of its 167,450 residents. By total budget it is 162nd highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£272.3m
Spend per resident
£1,626
166th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
167,450
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
162nd
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 Slough Council in financial difficulty?

Slough Council issued a Section 114 notice (Jul 2021), 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 Slough Council spends its money

Slough Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£114.5m

    42.1% of the budget

  • Adult social care£57.7m

    21.2% of the budget

  • Children's social care£38.5m

    14.1% of the budget

  • Central and other£24.8m

    9.1% of the budget

  • Housing£13.6m

    5.0% of the budget

  • Environment£11.6m

    4.2% of the budget

  • Public health£10.1m

    3.7% of the budget

  • Planning£1.3m

    0.5% of the budget

  • Culture£654,000

    0.2% 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 Slough

Across six benefits, £379.5m was paid out in Slough in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,267 per resident. That is 109th highest of 315 areas per person and 121st by total pounds, and 5.8% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Slough by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£255.8m
  • Personal Independence Payment£55.8m
  • Housing Benefit£53.5m
  • Disability Living Allowance£17.3m
  • Carer's Allowance£11.0m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£6.9m

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

Slough Council: common questions

How much does Slough Council spend?

Slough Council had net current service expenditure of £272.3m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Slough Council spend per resident?

About £1,626 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £272.3m and an ONS population estimate of 167,450. That is 166th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Slough Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £114.5m, 42.1% of the 2024-25 budget.

How much of Slough 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 Slough?

£379.5m 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 109th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.

Is Slough Council in financial difficulty?

Slough Council issued a Section 114 notice (Jul 2021), according to public reporting and MHCLG.