England · single-tier councils · 2024-25
Westmorland and Furness Council budget and spending
Westmorland and Furness Council had net current service expenditure of £467.6m in 2024-25, about £2,022 for each of its 231,307 residents. By total budget it is 95th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
- Net service spending, 2024-25
- £467.6m
- Spend per resident
- £2,022
- 96th of 185 single-tier councils
- Population (mid-2025)
- 231,307
- ONS mid-year estimate
- Rank by total budget
- 95th
- 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 Westmorland and Furness Council spends its money
- Education£193.6m
41.4% of the budget
- Adult social care£116.2m
24.8% of the budget
- Children's social care£52.6m
11.2% of the budget
- Environment£42.3m
9.0% of the budget
- Highways and transport£19.0m
4.1% of the budget
- Planning£15.9m
3.4% of the budget
- Culture£11.8m
2.5% of the budget
- Public health£8.5m
1.8% of the budget
- Central and other£4.2m
0.9% of the budget
- Housing£3.6m
0.8% 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 Westmorland and Furness
Across six benefits, £330.2m was paid out in Westmorland and Furness in the 12 months to March 2026, about £1,428 per resident. That is 258th highest of 315 areas per person and 133rd by total pounds, and 33.4% below the England and Wales figure of £2,142.
- Universal Credit£169.7m
- Personal Independence Payment£95.6m
- Housing Benefit£25.2m
- Disability Living Allowance£25.0m
- Employment and Support Allowance£18.3m
- Carer's Allowance£9.8m
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
Westmorland and Furness Council: common questions
How much does Westmorland and Furness Council spend?
Westmorland and Furness Council had net current service expenditure of £467.6m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.
How much does Westmorland and Furness Council spend per resident?
About £2,022 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £467.6m and an ONS population estimate of 231,307. That is 96th highest of 185 single-tier councils.
What does Westmorland and Furness Council spend most on?
Education is the largest service line at £193.6m, 41.4% of the 2024-25 budget.
How much of Westmorland and Furness Council's budget goes on social care?
Adult and children's social care together take 36.1% of net service spending in 2024-25.
How much is spent on benefits in Westmorland and Furness?
£330.2m 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 £1,428 per resident. That ranks 258th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.