England · single-tier councils · 2024-25
Thurrock Council budget and spending
Thurrock Council had net current service expenditure of £201.7m in 2024-25, about £1,111 for each of its 181,664 residents. By total budget it is 178th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
- Net service spending, 2024-25
- £201.7m
- Spend per resident
- £1,111
- 185th of 185 single-tier councils
- Population (mid-2025)
- 181,664
- ONS mid-year estimate
- Rank by total budget
- 178th
- 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 Thurrock Council in financial difficulty?
Thurrock Council issued a Section 114 notice (Dec 2022) and was agreed Exceptional Financial Support of £72m 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 Thurrock Council spends its money
- Education£64.4m
31.9% of the budget
- Children's social care£51.3m
25.4% of the budget
- Adult social care£34.1m
16.9% of the budget
- Environment£17.5m
8.7% of the budget
- Public health£10.6m
5.2% of the budget
- Central and other£10.1m
5.0% of the budget
- Housing£6.4m
3.2% of the budget
- Highways and transport£5.2m
2.6% of the budget
- Culture£4.2m
2.1% 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 Thurrock
Across six benefits, £371.5m was paid out in Thurrock in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,045 per resident. That is 139th highest of 315 areas per person and 123rd by total pounds, and 4.5% below the England and Wales figure of £2,142.
- Universal Credit£243.5m
- Personal Independence Payment£75.3m
- Disability Living Allowance£27.3m
- Housing Benefit£24.7m
- Carer's Allowance£13.0m
- Employment and Support Allowance£8.5m
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
Thurrock Council: common questions
How much does Thurrock Council spend?
Thurrock Council had net current service expenditure of £201.7m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.
How much does Thurrock Council spend per resident?
About £1,111 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £201.7m and an ONS population estimate of 181,664. That is 185th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
What does Thurrock Council spend most on?
Education is the largest service line at £64.4m, 31.9% of the 2024-25 budget.
How much of Thurrock Council's budget goes on social care?
Adult and children's social care together take 42.3% of net service spending in 2024-25.
How much is spent on benefits in Thurrock?
£371.5m 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 £2,045 per resident. That ranks 139th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.
Is Thurrock Council in financial difficulty?
Thurrock Council issued a Section 114 notice (Dec 2022) and was agreed Exceptional Financial Support of £72m for 2025-26, according to public reporting and MHCLG.