# Where your council tax goes in Brighton and Hove url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/brighton-and-hove/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 Brighton and Hove Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Brighton and Hove** is **£2,580.54** for 2026-27, split between Brighton and Hove £2,138.90, Brighton and Hove: adult social care precept, this year's increase £41.52, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £281.91, East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £117.49, Parish and town councils (average for the area) £0.72. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Brighton and Hove: **£833.37** of the bill. Council tax pays for 20% 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 - £2,580.54Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £2,138.90Goes to Brighton and Hove itself (83%) As of 6 April 2026 - £833.37Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 19.6%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. 2138.90 41.52 281.91 117.49 0.72 Brighton and Hove 83%Brighton and Hove: adult social care precept, this year's increase 2%Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 11%East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 5%Parish and town councils (average for the area) 0% 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 19.6%** of the money Brighton and Hove had to spend in 2025-26. ************ - Council tax 19.6% £197.6m - Business rates 8.5% £85.3m - General government grant 0.9% £8.8m - Government grants for specific services 46.2% £466.2m - Fees, charges and other income 24.6% £248.6m - Taken from reserves 0.3% £3.4m 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: £2,580.54 - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) £2,138.90 ** Your council · 82.9% of the bill - [Brighton and Hove: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) £41.52 ** Adult social care precept · 1.6% of the bill - [Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £281.91 ** Police · 10.9% of the bill - [East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) £117.49 ** Fire and rescue · 4.6% of the bill - Parish and town councils (average for the area) £0.72 ** Parish or town council · under 0.1% 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) - Brighton and Hove ### Brighton and Hove £2,138.90 of your bill goes to Brighton and Hove. It is shared out below in proportion to how Brighton and Hove spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £833.37 ** 39.0% of this part · £159.8m in 2025-26 · £562 per resident; similar councils £448 · up 6.6% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £412.27 ** 19.3% of this part · £79.0m in 2025-26 · £278 per resident; similar councils £343 · up 9.2% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-council~education) £237.99 ** 11.1% of this part · £275.0m in 2025-26 · £968 per resident; similar councils £671 · up 7.2% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £188.17 ** 8.8% of this part · £36.1m in 2025-26 · £127 per resident; similar councils £45 · up 24.9% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £173.01 ** 8.1% of this part · £33.2m in 2025-26 · £117 per resident; similar councils £100 · down 8.0% on 2024-25 - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £103.61 ** 4.8% of this part · £19.9m in 2025-26 · £70 per resident; similar councils £36 · down 0.9% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £77.10 ** 3.6% of this part · £14.8m in 2025-26 · £52 per resident; similar councils £47 · up 978.0% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £49.12 ** 2.3% of this part · £9.4m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £17 · up 0.7% on 2024-25 - [Public health](#d-council~public-health) £27.95 ** 1.3% of this part · £29.8m in 2025-26 · £105 per resident; similar councils £73 · up 1.4% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £22.80 ** 1.1% of this part · £4.4m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £44 - Other services £13.52 ** 0.6% of this part · £2.6m in 2025-26 · £9.12 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 14.0% on 2024-25 Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£229.4m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£24.4m) 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: Cumberland, Medway Towns, Derby City, Kingston-upon-Hull, Stoke-on-Trent, Plymouth, South Gloucestershire, Milton Keynes, Southampton, Central Bedfordshire. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £833.37 of your bill goes to adult social care at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £159.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £293.77 ** 35.3% of this · £56.3m in 2025-26 · £198 per resident; similar councils £139 · up 6.0% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-council~adult-social-care.physical) £260.19 ** 31.2% of this · £49.9m in 2025-26 · £176 per resident; similar councils £134 · up 7.6% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-council~adult-social-care.memory) £83.82 ** 10.1% of this · £16.1m in 2025-26 · £57 per resident; similar councils £21 · up 0.6% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £81.73 ** 9.8% of this · £15.7m in 2025-26 · £55 per resident; similar councils £43 · up 3.8% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £79.23 ** 9.5% of this · £15.2m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £46 · up 22.3% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £23.82 ** 2.9% of this · £4.6m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £22 · up 9.4% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £5.24 ** 0.6% of this · £1.0m in 2025-26 · £3.54 per resident; similar councils £1.95 · down 21.8% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £3.38 ** 0.4% of this · £647k in 2025-26 · £2.28 per resident; similar councils £8.00 · down 32.6% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £1.40 ** 0.2% of this · £269k in 2025-26 · £0.95 per resident; similar councils £1.71 · down 0.7% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-council~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.79 ** under 0.1% of this · £152k in 2025-26 · £0.53 per resident; similar councils £2.71 · down 11.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £293.77 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £56.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £268.44 ** 91.4% of this · £51.5m in 2025-26 · £181 per resident; similar councils £124 · up 5.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £25.33 ** 8.6% of this · £4.9m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 9.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £260.19 of your bill goes to physical support at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £49.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £154.84 ** 59.5% of this · £29.7m in 2025-26 · £104 per resident; similar councils £94 · up 12.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £105.36 ** 40.5% of this · £20.2m in 2025-26 · £71 per resident; similar councils £41 · up 1.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £83.82 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £16.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £78.67 ** 93.9% of this · £15.1m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £18 · down 0.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £5.15 ** 6.1% of this · £987k in 2025-26 · £3.47 per resident; similar councils £1.88 · up 32.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £79.23 of your bill goes to mental health support at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £15.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £60.95 ** 76.9% of this · £11.7m in 2025-26 · £41 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 23.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £18.27 ** 23.1% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 17.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.79 of your bill goes to sensory support at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £152k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £0.62 ** 77.6% of this · £118k in 2025-26 · £0.42 per resident; similar councils £1.10 · down 16.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.18 ** 22.4% of this · £34k in 2025-26 · £0.12 per resident; similar councils £1.29 · up 17.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £412.27 of your bill goes to children's social care at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £79.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £218.86 ** 53.1% of this · £42.0m in 2025-26 · £148 per resident; similar councils £199 · up 13.2% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £105.16 ** 25.5% of this · £20.2m in 2025-26 · £71 per resident; similar councils £60 · up 0.9% on 2024-25 - Children's centres and early years £30.01 ** 7.3% of this · £5.8m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £9.75 · up 8.4% on 2024-25 - Family support £29.11 ** 7.1% of this · £5.6m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £33 · up 15.3% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £12.20 ** 3.0% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £8.23 per resident; similar councils £4.34 · up 33.5% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £7.23 ** 1.8% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £4.87 per resident; similar councils £5.01 · down 1.4% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £6.94 ** 1.7% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £4.68 per resident; similar councils £3.65 · down 4.4% on 2024-25 - Asylum-seeking children £2.77 ** 0.7% of this · £531k in 2025-26 · £1.87 per resident; similar councils £4.41 · down 13.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - Education ### Education £237.99 of your bill goes to education at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £275.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Primary schools £85.67 ** 36.0% of this · £99.0m in 2025-26 · £348 per resident; similar councils £238 · down 1.9% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £74.61 ** 31.4% of this · £86.2m in 2025-26 · £303 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 2.2% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £35.54 ** 14.9% of this · £41.1m in 2025-26 · £145 per resident; similar councils £145 · up 48.1% on 2024-25 - Special schools and alternative provision £25.09 ** 10.5% of this · £29.0m in 2025-26 · £102 per resident; similar councils £141 · up 13.7% on 2024-25 - Other education £14.48 ** 6.1% of this · £16.7m in 2025-26 · £59 per resident; similar councils £70 · up 10.8% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £2.59 ** 1.1% of this · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 4.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £188.17 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £36.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £160.06 ** 85.1% of this · £30.7m in 2025-26 · £108 per resident; similar councils £22 · up 17.9% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £16.54 ** 8.8% of this · £3.2m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £5.72 · up 3.2% on 2024-25 - Private sector housing renewal £4.31 ** 2.3% of this · £827k in 2025-26 · £2.91 per resident; similar councils £0.92 - Supporting People and welfare services £3.09 ** 1.6% of this · £592k in 2025-26 · £2.08 per resident; similar councils £3.70 · down 17.0% on 2024-25 - Other General Fund housing £2.25 ** 1.2% of this · £431k in 2025-26 · £1.52 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 19.0% on 2024-25 - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £1.91 ** 1.0% of this · £366k in 2025-26 · £1.29 per resident; similar councils £0.92 · up 335.7% 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. Brighton and Hove's Housing Revenue Account took in £81.4m and spent £84.4m in 2025-26. [What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence). - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £173.01 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £33.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Street cleaning £50.70 ** 29.3% of this · £9.8m in 2025-26 · £34 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 3.9% on 2024-25 - Waste collection £39.58 ** 22.9% of this · £7.6m in 2025-26 · £27 per resident; similar councils £29 · down 17.6% on 2024-25 - Waste disposal £27.54 ** 15.9% of this · £5.3m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £34 · down 21.0% on 2024-25 - Recycling and waste minimisation £20.07 ** 11.6% of this · £3.9m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 11.0% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £11.05 ** 6.4% of this · £2.1m in 2025-26 · £7.52 per resident; similar councils £5.44 · down 13.7% on 2024-25 - Public toilets £10.09 ** 5.8% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £6.86 per resident; similar councils £0.08 · up 18.0% on 2024-25 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £6.08 ** 3.5% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £4.13 per resident; similar councils £5.50 · down 4.7% on 2024-25 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £3.49 ** 2.0% of this · £675k in 2025-26 · £2.38 per resident; similar councils £1.01 · down 29.6% on 2024-25 - Trading standards £2.59 ** 1.5% of this · £501k in 2025-26 · £1.76 per resident; similar councils £1.83 · down 10.4% on 2024-25 - Cemeteries and crematoria £1.81 ** 1.0% of this · £349k in 2025-26 · £1.23 per resident; similar councils £-0.58 · down 42.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £103.61 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £19.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £40.73 ** 39.3% of this · £8.4m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £10 · up 42.1% on 2024-25 - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £33.10 ** 31.9% of this · £6.8m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 0.1% on 2024-25 - Libraries £26.59 ** 25.7% of this · £5.5m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £12 · down 13.6% on 2024-25 - Sport and leisure £1.80 ** 1.7% of this · £372k in 2025-26 · £1.31 per resident; similar councils £3.57 · down 22.3% on 2024-25 - Tourism £1.39 ** 1.3% of this · £288k in 2025-26 · £1.01 per resident; similar councils £0.16 · down 83.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £77.10 of your bill goes to running the council at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £14.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £34.80 ** 45.1% of this · £7.9m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £16 · down 18.7% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £15.44 ** 20.0% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £6.61 · up 34.6% on 2024-25 - Local welfare assistance £10.70 ** 13.9% of this · £2.4m in 2025-26 · £8.53 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 4.7% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £8.54 ** 11.1% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £6.81 per resident; similar councils £3.37 · no change on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £3.84 ** 5.0% of this · £871k in 2025-26 · £3.07 per resident; similar councils £2.82 · down 3.5% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £2.93 ** 3.8% of this · £664k in 2025-26 · £2.34 per resident; similar councils £1.94 · down 62.7% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £0.85 ** 1.1% of this · £192k in 2025-26 · £0.68 per resident; similar councils £0.69 · up 1.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £49.12 of your bill goes to planning and development at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £9.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Economic development and business support £22.02 ** 44.8% of this · £4.2m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £5.20 · up 9.0% on 2024-25 - Community development £11.25 ** 22.9% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £7.59 per resident; similar councils £3.63 · down 18.0% on 2024-25 - Planning applications (development management) £8.07 ** 16.4% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £5.44 per resident; similar councils £2.73 · up 16.9% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £6.24 ** 12.7% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £4.21 per resident; similar councils £3.61 · down 12.4% on 2024-25 - Building control £1.17 ** 2.4% of this · £224k in 2025-26 · £0.79 per resident; similar councils £0.88 · up 24.4% on 2024-25 - Environmental initiatives £0.37 ** 0.8% of this · £71k in 2025-26 · £0.25 per resident; similar councils £0.99 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - Public health ### Public health £27.95 of your bill goes to public health at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £29.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Drug and alcohol services £10.11 ** 36.2% of this · £10.8m in 2025-26 · £38 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 11.8% on 2024-25 - Sexual health £4.60 ** 16.4% of this · £4.9m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 1.4% on 2024-25 - Children's 5-19 programmes £3.58 ** 12.8% of this · £3.8m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £5.96 · down 7.1% on 2024-25 - Health visiting and children's 0-5 services £3.48 ** 12.5% of this · £3.7m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 3.3% on 2024-25 - Other public health £3.10 ** 11.1% of this · £3.3m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £6.64 · down 19.1% on 2024-25 - Obesity and physical activity £0.87 ** 3.1% of this · £924k in 2025-26 · £3.25 per resident; similar councils £4.02 · down 3.5% on 2024-25 - NHS health checks and health protection £0.80 ** 2.9% of this · £856k in 2025-26 · £3.01 per resident; similar councils £3.03 · down 1.8% on 2024-25 - Public mental health £0.72 ** 2.6% of this · £767k in 2025-26 · £2.70 per resident; similar councils £1.35 · up 32.7% on 2024-25 - Stop smoking and tobacco control £0.69 ** 2.5% of this · £730k in 2025-26 · £2.57 per resident; similar councils £2.87 · up 1.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £22.80 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £4.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Concessionary bus fares £7.69 ** 33.7% of this · £10.9m in 2025-26 · £39 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 5.6% on 2024-25 - Support for bus, rail and other public transport £7.06 ** 31.0% of this · £10.0m in 2025-26 · £35 per resident; similar councils £9.36 · up 11.4% on 2024-25 - [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-council~highways-transport.maintenance) £4.05 ** 17.8% of this · £5.8m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 25.6% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £1.76 ** 7.7% of this · £2.5m in 2025-26 · £8.81 per resident; similar councils £10 · down 1.6% on 2024-25 - Traffic management and road safety £0.98 ** 4.3% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £4.92 per resident; similar councils £0.99 · down 11.2% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £0.96 ** 4.2% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £4.80 per resident; similar councils £6.73 · down 15.4% on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £0.30 ** 1.3% of this · £429k in 2025-26 · £1.51 per resident; similar councils £2.13 · up 42.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove](#d-council) - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) - Road and bridge maintenance ### Road and bridge maintenance £4.05 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £5.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Environmental, safety and routine maintenance £3.85 ** 95.1% of this · £5.5m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £6.98 · up 22.2% on 2024-25 - Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges) £0.20 ** 4.9% of this · £284k in 2025-26 · £1.00 per resident; similar councils £3.11 · up 173.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Brighton and Hove: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Brighton and Hove: adult social care precept, this year's increase £41.52 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 Brighton and Hove's adult social care spending of £159.8m 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) £14.64 ** 35.3% of this precept · £56.3m in 2025-26 · £198 per resident; similar councils £139 · up 6.0% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.physical) £12.96 ** 31.2% of this precept · £49.9m in 2025-26 · £176 per resident; similar councils £134 · up 7.6% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £4.18 ** 10.1% of this precept · £16.1m in 2025-26 · £57 per resident; similar councils £21 · up 0.6% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £4.07 ** 9.8% of this precept · £15.7m in 2025-26 · £55 per resident; similar councils £43 · up 3.8% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £3.95 ** 9.5% of this precept · £15.2m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £46 · up 22.3% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £1.19 ** 2.9% of this precept · £4.6m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £22 · up 9.4% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.26 ** 0.6% of this precept · £1.0m in 2025-26 · £3.54 per resident; similar councils £1.95 · down 21.8% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £0.17 ** 0.4% of this precept · £647k in 2025-26 · £2.28 per resident; similar councils £8.00 · down 32.6% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.07 ** 0.2% of this precept · £269k in 2025-26 · £0.95 per resident; similar councils £1.71 · down 0.7% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.04 ** under 0.1% of this precept · £152k in 2025-26 · £0.53 per resident; similar councils £2.71 · down 11.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £14.64 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £56.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £13.37 ** 91.4% of this · £51.5m in 2025-26 · £181 per resident; similar councils £124 · up 5.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.26 ** 8.6% of this · £4.9m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 9.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £12.96 of your bill goes to physical support at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £49.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £7.71 ** 59.5% of this · £29.7m in 2025-26 · £104 per resident; similar councils £94 · up 12.6% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £5.25 ** 40.5% of this · £20.2m in 2025-26 · £71 per resident; similar councils £41 · up 1.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £4.18 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £16.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £3.92 ** 93.9% of this · £15.1m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £18 · down 0.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.26 ** 6.1% of this · £987k in 2025-26 · £3.47 per resident; similar councils £1.88 · up 32.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £3.95 of your bill goes to mental health support at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £15.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £3.04 ** 76.9% of this · £11.7m in 2025-26 · £41 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 23.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.91 ** 23.1% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 17.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Brighton and Hove: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.04 of your bill goes to sensory support at Brighton and Hove. Here is how its £152k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £0.03 ** 77.6% of this · £118k in 2025-26 · £0.42 per resident; similar councils £1.10 · down 16.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.01 ** 22.4% of this · £34k in 2025-26 · £0.12 per resident; similar councils £1.29 · up 17.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £281.91 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 Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £419.3m 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) - East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority ### East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £117.49 of your bill goes to East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Fire and rescue](#d-fire~fire) £114.38 ** 97.4% of this part · £49.1m in 2025-26 · £58 per resident; similar councils £50 · up 3.6% on 2024-25 - Running the council £3.11 ** 2.6% of this part · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £1.58 per resident; similar councils £1.64 · up 8.4% on 2024-25 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 fire and rescue authorities closest in population: North Yorkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority, Hereford and Worcester Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Mid and West Wales Fire Authority, Cambridgeshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Humberside Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, North Wales Fire Authority. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Fire and rescue ### Fire and rescue £114.38 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £49.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Firefighting and rescue £105.49 ** 92.2% of this · £45.3m in 2025-26 · £54 per resident; similar councils £39 · up 3.8% on 2024-25 - Community fire safety £8.89 ** 7.8% of this · £3.8m in 2025-26 · £4.51 per resident; similar councils £3.85 · up 1.7% on 2024-25 ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Brighton and Hove 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 | £6.8m | £24 | £16 | — | up 0.1% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£24Similar councils, per resident£16Per mile of road—Changeup 0.1% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £9.8m | £34 | £12 | £26,053 (similar: £6,584) | up 3.9% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£34Similar councils, per resident£12Per mile of road£26,053 (similar: £6,584)Changeup 3.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £5.8m | £20 | £11 | £15,332 (similar: £4,951) | up 25.6% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£20Similar councils, per resident£11Per mile of road£15,332 (similar: £4,951)Changeup 25.6% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £5.5m | £19 | £7.24 | £14,577 (similar: £4,493) | up 22.2% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£19Similar councils, per resident£7.24Per mile of road£14,577 (similar: £4,493)Changeup 22.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £284k | £1.00 | £3.70 | £755 (similar: £1,896) | up 173.1% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£1.00Similar councils, per resident£3.70Per mile of road£755 (similar: £1,896)Changeup 173.1% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £429k | £1.51 | £2.13 | £1,141 (similar: £944) | up 42.1% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£1.51Similar councils, per resident£2.13Per mile of road£1,141 (similar: £944)Changeup 42.1% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £2.5m | £8.81 | £10 | £6,657 (similar: £3,798) | down 1.6% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£8.81Similar councils, per resident£10Per mile of road£6,657 (similar: £3,798)Changedown 1.6% 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 | £968 | £712 | | Median£712 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £562 | £478 | | Median£478 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £278 | £309 | | Median£309 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £127 | £33 | | Median£33 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £117 | £110 | | Median£110 | | | | Public healthDetails | £105 | £64 | | Median£64 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £70 | £38 | | Median£38 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £52 | £51 | | Median£51 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £33 | £21 | | Median£21 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £15 | £49 | | Median£49 | | | | Other servicesDetails | £9.12 | £10 | | Median£10 | | | - Brighton and Hove spent **40.5%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for unitary councils in England: 31.1%); 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 Brighton and Hove](/council-tax/england/brighton-and-hove/) and [everything else about Brighton and Hove](/your-area/brighton-and-hove/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Brighton and Hove? A Band D bill of £2,580.54 is split between Brighton and Hove, Brighton and Hove: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Parish and town councils (average for the area). In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £833.37.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 Brighton & Hove UA](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/brighton-and-hove-ua/) - [Back to Brighton and Hove: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/brighton-and-hove/) - [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.