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England · single-tier councils · 2024-25

Wirral Council budget and spending

Wirral Council had net current service expenditure of £698.2m in 2024-25, about £2,117 for each of its 329,896 residents. By total budget it is 38th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

Net service spending, 2024-25
£698.2m
Spend per resident
£2,117
85th of 185 single-tier councils
Population (mid-2025)
329,896
ONS mid-year estimate
Rank by total budget
38th
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 Wirral Council spends its money

Wirral Council spending by service, 2024-25
  • Education£297.8m

    42.6% of the budget

  • Adult social care£163.1m

    23.4% of the budget

  • Children's social care£105.9m

    15.2% of the budget

  • Public health£38.4m

    5.5% of the budget

  • Environment£19.8m

    2.8% of the budget

  • Culture£18.3m

    2.6% of the budget

  • Central and other£17.7m

    2.5% of the budget

  • Housing£14.3m

    2.0% of the budget

  • Planning£11.6m

    1.7% of the budget

  • Highways and transport£11.4m

    1.6% 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 Wirral

Across six benefits, £909.6m was paid out in Wirral in the 12 months to March 2026, about £2,757 per resident. That is 40th highest of 315 areas per person and 25th by total pounds, and 28.7% above the England and Wales figure of £2,142.

Benefits paid in Wirral by benefit, 12 months to March 2026
  • Universal Credit£488.4m
  • Personal Independence Payment£254.2m
  • Disability Living Allowance£70.8m
  • Housing Benefit£66.9m
  • Employment and Support Allowance£38.2m
  • Carer's Allowance£32.0m

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

Wirral Council: common questions

How much does Wirral Council spend?

Wirral Council had net current service expenditure of £698.2m in 2024-25. This is the council budget only: it excludes NHS spending, pensions, Universal Credit and debt interest.

How much does Wirral Council spend per resident?

About £2,117 per resident, from a 2024-25 budget of £698.2m and an ONS population estimate of 329,896. That is 85th highest of 185 single-tier councils.

What does Wirral Council spend most on?

Education is the largest service line at £297.8m, 42.6% of the 2024-25 budget.

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

Adult and children's social care together take 38.5% of net service spending in 2024-25.

How much is spent on benefits in Wirral?

£909.6m 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 £2,757 per resident. That ranks 40th of 315 areas per person. It excludes the State Pension and is not part of the council budget.