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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Swindon Council budget and spending

Swindon Council had net current service expenditure of £334.7m in 2024-25, about £1,365 for each of its 245,286 residents. By total budget it is 142nd highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£334.7m
Spend per resident
£1,365
184th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
245,286
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
142nd
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 Swindon Council spends its money

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

    34.2% of the budget

  • Adult social care£99.4m

    29.7% of the budget

  • Children's social care£69.3m

    20.7% of the budget

  • Environment£18.9m

    5.7% of the budget

  • Public health£13.6m

    4.1% of the budget

  • Central and other£10.0m

    3.0% of the budget

  • Housing£3.7m

    1.1% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£2.8m

    0.8% of the budget

  • Planning£1.4m

    0.4% of the budget

  • Culture£922,000

    0.3% 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 Swindon

Across six benefits, £441.2m was paid out in Swindon in the 12 months to March 2026, about £1,799 per resident. That is 188th highest of 315 areas per person and 104th by total pounds, and 16.0% below the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Swindon by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£266.6m
  • Personal Independence Payment£98.7m
  • Disability Living Allowance£35.5m
  • Housing Benefit£34.6m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£14.9m
  • Carer's Allowance£13.8m

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

Swindon Council: common questions

How much does Swindon Council spend?

Swindon Council had net current service expenditure of £334.7m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Swindon Council spend per resident?

About £1,365 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £334.7m and an ONS population estimate of 245,286. That is 184th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Swindon Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £114.5m, 34.2% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 50.4% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Swindon?

£441.2m 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 £1,799 per resident. That ranks 188th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.