# Where your council tax goes in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/bournemouth-christchurch-and-poole/where-it-goes/ updated: 29 September 2026 licence: Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Figures: each source's own licence, listed under Sources. publisher: [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk) # Where your council tax goes in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole** is **£2,435.58** for 2026-27, split between Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole £1,943.35, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: adult social care precept, this year's increase £37.11, Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £322.58, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority £96.95, Parish and town councils (average for the area) £35.59. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: **£698.13** of the bill. Council tax pays for 29% of the council's own spending; the rest is government grant, business rates and fees. Figures for the 2026–27 financial year. Source: [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics). ## Key figures - £2,435.58Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £1,943.35Goes to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole itself (80%) As of 6 April 2026 - £698.13Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 28.7%Of the council's money that comes from council tax, 2025-26 As of 28 September 2026 Source: [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics). ## Who gets your bill Your council tax band A B C D E F G H Figures are for a **Band D** home. Bands A to H pay a fixed fraction of this, set in law. 1943.35 37.11 322.58 96.95 35.59 Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 80%Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: adult social care precept, this year's increase 2%Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 13%Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority 4%Parish and town councils (average for the area) 1% Parish precepts differ from parish to parish; this is the average across the area, and a home outside any parish pays none. ## And where does that bit go? Choose any part of the bill to see how it divides, then keep going as far as the published returns allow. Every level has its own link you can share. ### Where the rest comes from **Council tax pays for 28.7%** of the money Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole had to spend in 2025-26. ************ - Council tax 28.7% £281.2m - Business rates 7.2% £70.9m - General government grant 0.4% £4.4m - Government grants for specific services 37.3% £364.8m - Fees, charges and other income 25.7% £251.7m - Taken from reserves 0.6% £6.2m Council tax is pooled with the council's other money, not ring-fenced for any service. The split on this page shares your bill out in proportion to what each body spends; it does not say what any one pound paid for. - Your bill ### Your bill: £2,435.58 - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) £1,943.35 ** Your council · 79.8% of the bill - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) £37.11 ** Adult social care precept · 1.5% of the bill - [Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £322.58 ** Police · 13.2% of the bill - [Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) £96.95 ** Fire and rescue · 4.0% of the bill - Parish and town councils (average for the area) £35.59 ** Parish or town council · 1.5% of the bill. Parish, town and community councils do not file spending returns with the government, so there is no national breakdown. Each publishes its own annual accounts. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole ### Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole £1,943.35 of your bill goes to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. It is shared out below in proportion to how Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £698.13 ** 35.9% of this part · £201.4m in 2025-26 · £496 per resident; similar councils £506 · up 13.9% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £424.41 ** 21.8% of this part · £122.5m in 2025-26 · £302 per resident; similar councils £267 · up 12.1% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-council~education) £379.03 ** 19.5% of this part · £244.1m in 2025-26 · £601 per resident; similar councils £759 · up 16.3% on 2024-25 - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £160.83 ** 8.3% of this part · £46.4m in 2025-26 · £114 per resident; similar councils £97 · up 12.2% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £69.83 ** 3.6% of this part · £20.1m in 2025-26 · £50 per resident; similar councils £47 · down 25.5% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £62.67 ** 3.2% of this part · £18.1m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident; similar councils £24 · up 0.5% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £62.14 ** 3.2% of this part · £17.9m in 2025-26 · £44 per resident; similar councils £38 · up 3.5% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £48.49 ** 2.5% of this part · £14.0m in 2025-26 · £34 per resident; similar councils £24 · down 5.2% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £37.80 ** 1.9% of this part · £10.9m in 2025-26 · £27 per resident; similar councils £49 · up 24.9% on 2024-25 Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£134.7m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£23.4m) is taken off, because council tax does not pay for it. **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 unitary councils in England closest in population: Dorset, Cheshire East, Leicester City, North Northamptonshire, Cheshire West and Chester, West Northamptonshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Northumberland, Shropshire, Bristol. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £698.13 of your bill goes to adult social care at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £201.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £215.22 ** 30.8% of this · £62.1m in 2025-26 · £153 per resident; similar councils £166 · up 11.7% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-council~adult-social-care.physical) £165.61 ** 23.7% of this · £47.8m in 2025-26 · £118 per resident; similar councils £136 · up 28.1% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-council~adult-social-care.memory) £126.26 ** 18.1% of this · £36.4m in 2025-26 · £90 per resident; similar councils £52 · up 4.6% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £88.79 ** 12.7% of this · £25.6m in 2025-26 · £63 per resident; similar councils £39 · up 7.9% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £52.55 ** 7.5% of this · £15.2m in 2025-26 · £37 per resident; similar councils £41 · up 28.3% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £19.86 ** 2.8% of this · £5.7m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £20 · down 13.3% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £17.47 ** 2.5% of this · £5.0m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £7.71 · up 16.9% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £7.67 ** 1.1% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £5.46 per resident; similar councils £2.06 · up 41.7% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £3.63 ** 0.5% of this · £1.0m in 2025-26 · £2.58 per resident; similar councils £2.44 · up 49.6% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-council~adult-social-care.sensory) £1.08 ** 0.2% of this · £312k in 2025-26 · £0.77 per resident; similar councils £1.24 · down 19.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £215.22 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £62.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £190.46 ** 88.5% of this · £55.0m in 2025-26 · £135 per resident; similar councils £154 · up 10.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £24.76 ** 11.5% of this · £7.1m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 23.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £165.61 of your bill goes to physical support at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £47.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £127.22 ** 76.8% of this · £36.7m in 2025-26 · £90 per resident; similar councils £94 · up 35.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £38.38 ** 23.2% of this · £11.1m in 2025-26 · £27 per resident; similar councils £34 · up 9.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £126.26 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £36.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £119.94 ** 95.0% of this · £34.6m in 2025-26 · £85 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 3.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £6.32 ** 5.0% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £4.49 per resident; similar councils £3.91 · up 27.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £52.55 of your bill goes to mental health support at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £15.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £34.30 ** 65.3% of this · £9.9m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 30.1% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £18.25 ** 34.7% of this · £5.3m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 25.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £1.08 of your bill goes to sensory support at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £312k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £0.62 ** 57.4% of this · £179k in 2025-26 · £0.44 per resident; similar councils £0.63 · down 27.8% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.46 ** 42.6% of this · £133k in 2025-26 · £0.33 per resident; similar councils £0.67 · down 3.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £424.41 of your bill goes to children's social care at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £122.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £268.76 ** 63.3% of this · £77.5m in 2025-26 · £191 per resident; similar councils £175 · up 22.1% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £83.43 ** 19.7% of this · £24.1m in 2025-26 · £59 per resident; similar councils £56 · down 0.6% on 2024-25 - Family support £22.61 ** 5.3% of this · £6.5m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £32 · down 33.6% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £19.01 ** 4.5% of this · £5.5m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £0.56 · up 216.7% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £12.93 ** 3.0% of this · £3.7m in 2025-26 · £9.19 per resident; similar councils £4.39 · down 23.7% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £9.31 ** 2.2% of this · £2.7m in 2025-26 · £6.62 per resident; similar councils £3.46 · up 18.2% on 2024-25 - Asylum-seeking children £5.53 ** 1.3% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £3.93 per resident; similar councils £1.01 · down 28.5% on 2024-25 - Children's centres and early years £2.84 ** 0.7% of this · £818k in 2025-26 · £2.02 per resident; similar councils £3.08 · up 57.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - Education ### Education £379.03 of your bill goes to education at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £244.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Special schools and alternative provision £161.85 ** 42.7% of this · £104.2m in 2025-26 · £257 per resident; similar councils £152 · up 24.4% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £78.82 ** 20.8% of this · £50.8m in 2025-26 · £125 per resident; similar councils £146 · up 35.8% on 2024-25 - Other education £55.16 ** 14.6% of this · £35.5m in 2025-26 · £88 per resident; similar councils £89 · up 4.0% on 2024-25 - Primary schools £40.33 ** 10.6% of this · £26.0m in 2025-26 · £64 per resident; similar councils £235 · down 0.3% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £28.62 ** 7.6% of this · £18.4m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident; similar councils £120 · down 12.6% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £14.26 ** 3.8% of this · £9.2m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 24.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £160.83 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £46.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Waste disposal £68.17 ** 42.4% of this · £19.8m in 2025-26 · £49 per resident; similar councils £42 · up 6.1% on 2024-25 - Street cleaning £23.75 ** 14.8% of this · £6.9m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £8.92 · down 5.4% on 2024-25 - Waste collection £21.84 ** 13.6% of this · £6.4m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 53.4% on 2024-25 - Recycling and waste minimisation £13.15 ** 8.2% of this · £3.8m in 2025-26 · £9.43 per resident; similar councils £10 · down 1.7% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £10.44 ** 6.5% of this · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £7.49 per resident; similar councils £4.27 · up 1.6% on 2024-25 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £9.58 ** 6.0% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £6.87 per resident; similar councils £6.89 · up 17.6% on 2024-25 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £6.57 ** 4.1% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £4.72 per resident; similar councils £1.19 · up 55.5% on 2024-25 - Public toilets £4.05 ** 2.5% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £2.91 per resident; similar councils £0.16 · up 7.4% on 2024-25 - Cemeteries and crematoria £1.71 ** 1.1% of this · £499k in 2025-26 · £1.23 per resident; similar councils £-1.10 - Trading standards £1.56 ** 1.0% of this · £455k in 2025-26 · £1.12 per resident; similar councils £2.09 · up 6.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £69.83 of your bill goes to running the council at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £20.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £35.99 ** 51.5% of this · £10.6m in 2025-26 · £26 per resident; similar councils £15 · down 37.3% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £13.50 ** 19.3% of this · £4.0m in 2025-26 · £9.76 per resident; similar councils £4.68 · up 3.9% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £13.33 ** 19.1% of this · £3.9m in 2025-26 · £9.64 per resident; similar councils £9.11 · up 5.2% on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £3.12 ** 4.5% of this · £914k in 2025-26 · £2.25 per resident; similar councils £2.29 · up 9.2% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £2.45 ** 3.5% of this · £719k in 2025-26 · £1.77 per resident; similar councils £3.00 · down 63.3% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £1.44 ** 2.1% of this · £423k in 2025-26 · £1.04 per resident; similar councils £1.05 · up 15.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £62.67 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £18.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £40.41 ** 64.5% of this · £13.5m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 6.1% on 2024-25 - Supporting People and welfare services £13.99 ** 22.3% of this · £4.7m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £3.73 · up 6.3% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £5.91 ** 9.4% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £4.85 per resident; similar councils £3.64 · up 20.7% on 2024-25 - Private sector housing renewal £1.76 ** 2.8% of this · £586k in 2025-26 · £1.44 per resident; similar councils £0.09 · up 49.9% on 2024-25 - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £0.60 ** 1.0% of this · £201k in 2025-26 · £0.50 per resident; similar councils £2.37 · down 36.8% on 2024-25 **Council homes are not in this.** Council housing is paid for through the Housing Revenue Account, from tenants' rents, and the law keeps it separate from the General Fund that council tax goes into. Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's Housing Revenue Account took in £60.6m and spent £62.8m in 2025-26. [What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence). - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £62.14 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £17.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £26.10 ** 42.0% of this · £8.9m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £12 · down 3.3% on 2024-25 - Libraries £17.80 ** 28.6% of this · £6.1m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £10 · down 0.9% on 2024-25 - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £12.46 ** 20.0% of this · £4.3m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £7.97 · up 10.0% on 2024-25 - Sport and leisure £2.95 ** 4.8% of this · £1.0m in 2025-26 · £2.49 per resident; similar councils £4.55 · up 6.9% on 2024-25 - Tourism £2.77 ** 4.5% of this · £950k in 2025-26 · £2.34 per resident; similar councils £0.22 · down 24.2% on 2024-25 - Community centres and public halls £0.06 ** under 0.1% of this · £20k in 2025-26 · £0.05 per resident; similar councils £0.31 · down 28.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £48.49 of your bill goes to planning and development at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £14.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Community development £22.08 ** 45.5% of this · £6.4m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £3.31 · down 13.9% on 2024-25 - Planning applications (development management) £9.79 ** 20.2% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £6.96 per resident; similar councils £1.67 · down 0.9% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £8.73 ** 18.0% of this · £2.5m in 2025-26 · £6.20 per resident; similar councils £4.75 · up 91.5% on 2024-25 - Economic development and business support £4.82 ** 9.9% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £3.43 per resident; similar councils £8.96 · down 42.0% on 2024-25 - Building control £3.08 ** 6.3% of this · £888k in 2025-26 · £2.19 per resident; similar councils £0.59 · up 10.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £37.80 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £10.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Concessionary bus fares £11.01 ** 29.1% of this · £8.2m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £8.19 · up 9.1% on 2024-25 - Support for bus, rail and other public transport £7.81 ** 20.7% of this · £5.8m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £8.11 · up 26.9% on 2024-25 - [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-council~highways-transport.maintenance) £7.26 ** 19.2% of this · £5.4m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 8.8% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £5.10 ** 13.5% of this · £3.8m in 2025-26 · £9.33 per resident; similar councils £7.21 · up 1.0% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £3.84 ** 10.2% of this · £2.9m in 2025-26 · £7.03 per resident; similar councils £4.45 · up 9.6% on 2024-25 - Traffic management and road safety £2.62 ** 6.9% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £4.79 per resident; similar councils £2.67 · down 25.0% on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £0.14 ** 0.4% of this · £105k in 2025-26 · £0.26 per resident; similar councils £2.84 · down 23.9% on 2024-25 - Other transport (airports, harbours, tolls) £0.03 ** under 0.1% of this · £21k in 2025-26 · £0.05 per resident; similar councils £0.00 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](#d-council) - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) - Road and bridge maintenance ### Road and bridge maintenance £7.26 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £5.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges) £3.71 ** 51.1% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £6.79 per resident; similar councils £4.51 · down 16.3% on 2024-25 - Environmental, safety and routine maintenance £3.55 ** 48.9% of this · £2.6m in 2025-26 · £6.50 per resident; similar councils £8.40 · up 58.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: adult social care precept, this year's increase £37.11 of your bill is this year's adult social care precept, which councils may raise on top of the usual limit for adult social care. It is shown against how Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole's adult social care spending of £201.4m divided in 2025-26. MHCLG publishes only this year's increase; the running total since 2016-17 printed on your bill is in the council part above. - [Learning disability support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £11.44 ** 30.8% of this precept · £62.1m in 2025-26 · £153 per resident; similar councils £166 · up 11.7% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.physical) £8.80 ** 23.7% of this precept · £47.8m in 2025-26 · £118 per resident; similar councils £136 · up 28.1% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £6.71 ** 18.1% of this precept · £36.4m in 2025-26 · £90 per resident; similar councils £52 · up 4.6% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £4.72 ** 12.7% of this precept · £25.6m in 2025-26 · £63 per resident; similar councils £39 · up 7.9% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £2.79 ** 7.5% of this precept · £15.2m in 2025-26 · £37 per resident; similar councils £41 · up 28.3% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £1.06 ** 2.8% of this precept · £5.7m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £20 · down 13.3% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £0.93 ** 2.5% of this precept · £5.0m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £7.71 · up 16.9% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.41 ** 1.1% of this precept · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £5.46 per resident; similar councils £2.06 · up 41.7% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.19 ** 0.5% of this precept · £1.0m in 2025-26 · £2.58 per resident; similar councils £2.44 · up 49.6% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.06 ** 0.2% of this precept · £312k in 2025-26 · £0.77 per resident; similar councils £1.24 · down 19.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £11.44 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £62.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £10.12 ** 88.5% of this · £55.0m in 2025-26 · £135 per resident; similar councils £154 · up 10.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.32 ** 11.5% of this · £7.1m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 23.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £8.80 of your bill goes to physical support at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £47.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £6.76 ** 76.8% of this · £36.7m in 2025-26 · £90 per resident; similar councils £94 · up 35.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £2.04 ** 23.2% of this · £11.1m in 2025-26 · £27 per resident; similar councils £34 · up 9.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £6.71 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £36.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £6.38 ** 95.0% of this · £34.6m in 2025-26 · £85 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 3.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.34 ** 5.0% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £4.49 per resident; similar councils £3.91 · up 27.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £2.79 of your bill goes to mental health support at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £15.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £1.82 ** 65.3% of this · £9.9m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 30.1% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.97 ** 34.7% of this · £5.3m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 25.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.06 of your bill goes to sensory support at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Here is how its £312k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £0.03 ** 57.4% of this · £179k in 2025-26 · £0.44 per resident; similar councils £0.63 · down 27.8% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.02 ** 42.6% of this · £133k in 2025-26 · £0.33 per resident; similar councils £0.67 · down 3.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £322.58 of your bill is this year's adult social care precept, which councils may raise on top of the usual limit for adult social care. It is shown against how Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £191.5m divided in 2025-26. MHCLG publishes only this year's increase; the running total since 2016-17 printed on your bill is in the council part above. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority ### Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority £96.95 of your bill goes to Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Fire and rescue](#d-fire~fire) £92.89 ** 95.8% of this part · £74.8m in 2025-26 · £48 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 8.5% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-fire~central) £4.06 ** 4.2% of this part · £3.3m in 2025-26 · £2.08 per resident; similar councils £0.52 · up 8.1% on 2024-25 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 fire and rescue authorities closest in population: South Wales Fire Authority, Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Essex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Kent Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority, Nottinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Fire and rescue ### Fire and rescue £92.89 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £74.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Firefighting and rescue £74.74 ** 80.5% of this · £60.2m in 2025-26 · £38 per resident; similar councils £42 · up 8.6% on 2024-25 - Community fire safety £17.79 ** 19.2% of this · £14.3m in 2025-26 · £9.13 per resident; similar councils £4.94 · up 7.4% on 2024-25 - Fire emergency planning £0.36 ** 0.4% of this · £287k in 2025-26 · £0.18 per resident; similar councils £0.15 · up 56.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Running the council ### Running the council £4.06 of your bill goes to running the council at Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £3.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £2.46 ** 60.7% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £1.26 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 7.7% on 2024-25 - Corporate and democratic core £1.59 ** 39.3% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £0.82 per resident; similar councils £0.45 · up 8.7% on 2024-25 ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole spent, net of income, on the lines readers ask about most. Roads and street cleaning are also shown per mile of road the council looks after, where it is the highway authority. Gully cleaning and verge cutting are inside routine maintenance; no return splits them out. | Line | Net spending | Per resident | Similar councils, per resident | Per mile of road | Change | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Parks and open spaces (including play areas)Details | £8.9m | £22 | £13 | — | down 3.3% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£22Similar councils, per resident£13Per mile of road—Changedown 3.3% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £6.9m | £17 | £8.92 | £8,774 (similar: £2,423) | down 5.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£17Similar councils, per resident£8.92Per mile of road£8,774 (similar: £2,423)Changedown 5.4% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £5.4m | £13 | £18 | £6,841 (similar: £4,967) | up 8.8% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£13Similar councils, per resident£18Per mile of road£6,841 (similar: £4,967)Changeup 8.8% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £2.6m | £6.50 | £8.40 | £3,345 (similar: £1,691) | up 58.5% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£6.50Similar councils, per resident£8.40Per mile of road£3,345 (similar: £1,691)Changeup 58.5% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £2.8m | £6.79 | £5.58 | £3,496 (similar: £1,902) | down 16.3% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£6.79Similar councils, per resident£5.58Per mile of road£3,496 (similar: £1,902)Changedown 16.3% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £105k | £0.26 | £2.84 | £133 (similar: £638) | down 23.9% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£0.26Similar councils, per resident£2.84Per mile of road£133 (similar: £638)Changedown 23.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £3.8m | £9.33 | £7.21 | £4,803 (similar: £1,933) | up 1.0% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£9.33Similar councils, per resident£7.21Per mile of road£4,803 (similar: £1,933)Changeup 1.0% on 2024-25 | | | | | | Miles of road: Department for Transport road lengths, 2025; locally managed major roads and all minor roads. More on [what council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#local-environment). ## What it adds up to | Service | Per resident | Median | | --- | --- | --- | | EducationDetails | £601 | £718 | | Median£718 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £496 | £478 | | Median£478 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £302 | £307 | | Median£307 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £114 | £110 | | Median£110 | | | | Public healthDetails | £56 | £65 | | Median£65 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £50 | £52 | | Median£52 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £45 | £33 | | Median£33 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £44 | £38 | | Median£38 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £34 | £21 | | Median£21 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £27 | £49 | | Median£49 | | | - Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole spent **29.2%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for unitary councils in England: 31.4%); the rest went on suppliers, contractors, grants, benefits and other running costs. ## What this data does and doesn't show - These are each body's own figures, as reported to government in its revenue outturn return. Net spending is after the fees, charges and grants a service brings in. - Your bill is for 2026-27; it is shared out using the latest published return, which covers an earlier year. The mix of spending changes little from one year to the next, but it does change. - Council tax is not ring-fenced: this shows your bill in proportion to spending, not what your money bought. Where a precept is set aside for adult social care, it is shown against adult social care. - No council publishes spending at street or property level, so nothing here says what was spent near you. - Sub-service lines are the ones the national returns itemise. Councils describe their own budgets differently; their budget books and statements of accounts have more detail. ## Sources - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England: Table 10, local authority level data](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a02eeeccd2e0e8b5b20b449/Table_10_2026-27.ods), published 25 March 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: Revenue Outturn multi-year data set](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ab26ffffe72ed1e2b02ee74/Revenue_Outturn_time_series_data_v4.csv), published 28 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. How the split is worked out, and how the three nations' returns are matched to one list of services, is on the [methodology page](/methodology/#council-spending). The dataset is on the [data page](/data/#council-spending). See also [council tax in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](/council-tax/england/bournemouth-christchurch-and-poole/) and [everything else about Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole](/your-area/bournemouth-christchurch-and-poole/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole? A Band D bill of £2,435.58 is split between Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Parish and town councils (average for the area). In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £698.13.Is council tax ring-fenced for particular services? No. Council tax is pooled with grants, business rates and fees. The adult social care precept is the exception: councils raise it for adult social care. ## Sources for this page | Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics) | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | the 2026–27 financial year | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) | | [Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: Revenue Outturn multi-year data set](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ab26ffffe72ed1e2b02ee74/Revenue_Outturn_time_series_data_v4.csv) | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | 28 September 2026 | annual | [Open Government Licence v3.0](https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) | Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Related pages - [Next in this section: Parking income in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole UA](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/bournemouth-christchurch-and-poole-ua/) - [Back to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/bournemouth-christchurch-and-poole/) - [How much is council tax and what does it pay for?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/) - [Who is my MP, and what does their office cost?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/mps/) - [Where does my tax money actually go?](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/for-every-100-pounds-of-tax/) ## More from this publisher - [UK tax calculators](https://howlongisit.co.uk) Published by [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). Our words, analysis, charts and derived calculations: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), credit [Tekstak Ltd](https://tek-stak.co.uk). The figures belong to the publishers listed under Sources and are used under their licences. Figures last updated 29 September 2026.