Council Tax budget information

We spend over £1 billion per year providing services to local residents. In 2025-26, over a quarter of this (over £260m) will be funded through Council Tax paid by residents of the borough; a further £76m will be funded through business rates paid by companies. Elements of the Council Tax you pay will also fund services provided by Cheshire Fire Authority, Cheshire Police (through the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire) and local parish and town councils.

The Council’s vision to 2028 is set out in the Council Plan called ‘Play Your Part towards a Stronger Future’. More information on the Council Plan can be found on our four year plan web page.

The following table shows the 2025-26 budget that has been developed to deliver the priorities set out in the Council Plan.

	2025-26			2024-25
	Spend (£000s)	Income (£000s)	Net spend (£000s)	Net spend (£000s)
Adult social care and health	291,004	-94,636	196,368	178,955
Children and families	415,311	-305,144	110,167	101,279
Place and growth	116,354	-50,621	65,623	63,967
Housing revenue account	27,589	-27,589	0	0
Corporate services	69,266	-38,508	30,758	31,152
Housing benefits	62,320	-62,320	0	2
Capital financing	23,410	-870	22,540	20,718
Contingencies	11,161	0	11,271	14,932
Council budget	1,016,415	-579,688	436,727	411,003
Use of reserves	0	-2,854	-2,854	-14,477
Corporate grants	0	-85,850	-85,850	-71,454
Revenue support grant	0	-5,166	-5,166	-4,470
Business rates	0	-76,225	-76,225	-73,087
Collection fund (surplus)/deficit	0	-6,184	-6,184	-4,358
Council Tax requirement	1,016,415	-755,967	260,448	243,157
Parish precepts	5,518	0	5,518	5,160
Council Tax (including precepts)	1,021,933	-755,967	265,966	248,317