# Where your council tax goes in Central Bedfordshire url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/central-bedfordshire/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 Central Bedfordshire Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Central Bedfordshire** is **£2,516.16** for 2026-27, split between Central Bedfordshire £1,894.75, Central Bedfordshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase £36.79, Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £297.59, Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £122.72, Parish and town councils (average for the area) £164.31. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Central Bedfordshire: **£819.05** of the bill. Council tax pays for 31% 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 - £2,516.16Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £1,894.75Goes to Central Bedfordshire itself (75%) As of 6 April 2026 - £819.05Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 31.4%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. 1894.75 36.79 297.59 122.72 164.31 Central Bedfordshire 75%Central Bedfordshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase 1%Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 12%Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 5%Parish and town councils (average for the area) 7% 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 31.4%** of the money Central Bedfordshire had to spend in 2025-26. ********** - Council tax 31.4% £211.4m - General government grant 0.1% £991k - Government grants for specific services 51.6% £346.9m - Fees, charges and other income 16.7% £112.0m - Taken from reserves 0.2% £1.3m 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: £2,516.16 - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) £1,894.75 ** Your council · 75.3% of the bill - [Central Bedfordshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) £36.79 ** Adult social care precept · 1.5% of the bill - [Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £297.59 ** Police · 11.8% of the bill - [Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) £122.72 ** Fire and rescue · 4.9% of the bill - Parish and town councils (average for the area) £164.31 ** Parish or town council · 6.5% 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) - Central Bedfordshire ### Central Bedfordshire £1,894.75 of your bill goes to Central Bedfordshire. It is shared out below in proportion to how Central Bedfordshire spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £819.05 ** 43.2% of this part · £133.4m in 2025-26 · £415 per resident; similar councils £504 · up 7.6% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £399.62 ** 21.1% of this part · £65.1m in 2025-26 · £202 per resident; similar councils £284 · down 4.2% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-council~education) £258.20 ** 13.6% of this part · £223.9m in 2025-26 · £696 per resident; similar councils £760 · up 0.2% on 2024-25 - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £159.39 ** 8.4% of this part · £26.0m in 2025-26 · £81 per resident; similar councils £116 · down 0.6% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £86.78 ** 4.6% of this part · £14.1m in 2025-26 · £44 per resident; similar councils £43 · down 11.5% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £64.10 ** 3.4% of this part · £10.4m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £46 · up 3.1% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £56.40 ** 3.0% of this part · £9.2m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 6.2% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £28.28 ** 1.5% of this part · £4.6m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £39 · down 13.6% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £22.92 ** 1.2% of this part · £3.7m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 63.8% on 2024-25 Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£181.9m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£15.2m) 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: Nottingham City, Shropshire, Northumberland, Milton Keynes, South Gloucestershire, Medway Towns, East Riding of Yorkshire, Brighton and Hove, Cumberland, Cheshire West and Chester. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £819.05 of your bill goes to adult social care at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £133.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £281.36 ** 34.4% of this · £45.9m in 2025-26 · £143 per resident; similar councils £166 · up 5.8% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-council~adult-social-care.physical) £234.45 ** 28.6% of this · £38.2m in 2025-26 · £119 per resident; similar councils £140 · up 12.0% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £103.17 ** 12.6% of this · £16.8m in 2025-26 · £52 per resident; similar councils £43 · up 5.2% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £57.98 ** 7.1% of this · £9.5m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £6.52 · up 6.9% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £55.07 ** 6.7% of this · £9.0m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 22.0% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £43.69 ** 5.3% of this · £7.1m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £15 · down 0.9% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-council~adult-social-care.memory) £31.75 ** 3.9% of this · £5.2m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 13.9% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-council~adult-social-care.sensory) £7.99 ** 1.0% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £4.05 per resident; similar councils £0.96 · up 2.0% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £3.59 ** 0.4% of this · £586k in 2025-26 · £1.82 per resident; similar councils £2.49 · down 60.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £281.36 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £45.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £254.65 ** 90.5% of this · £41.5m in 2025-26 · £129 per resident; similar councils £151 · up 4.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £26.71 ** 9.5% of this · £4.4m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £17 · up 15.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £234.45 of your bill goes to physical support at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £38.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £184.27 ** 78.6% of this · £30.0m in 2025-26 · £93 per resident; similar councils £97 · up 9.0% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £50.17 ** 21.4% of this · £8.2m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £41 · up 24.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £55.07 of your bill goes to mental health support at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £9.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £41.06 ** 74.6% of this · £6.7m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 21.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £14.01 ** 25.4% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £7.10 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 22.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £31.75 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £5.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £27.55 ** 86.8% of this · £4.5m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 10.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £4.20 ** 13.2% of this · £685k in 2025-26 · £2.13 per resident; similar councils £2.56 · up 40.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £7.99 of your bill goes to sensory support at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £1.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £4.35 ** 54.4% of this · £709k in 2025-26 · £2.20 per resident; similar councils £0.51 · down 8.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £3.64 ** 45.6% of this · £594k in 2025-26 · £1.85 per resident; similar councils £0.53 · up 17.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £399.62 of your bill goes to children's social care at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £65.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Family support £141.04 ** 35.3% of this · £23.0m in 2025-26 · £71 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 8.1% on 2024-25 - Children looked after £90.91 ** 22.7% of this · £14.8m in 2025-26 · £46 per resident; similar councils £181 · down 17.1% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £73.56 ** 18.4% of this · £12.0m in 2025-26 · £37 per resident; similar councils £5.37 · down 8.2% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £60.35 ** 15.1% of this · £9.8m in 2025-26 · £31 per resident; similar councils £2.36 · up 6.1% on 2024-25 - Asylum-seeking children £21.82 ** 5.5% of this · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £2.69 · down 22.5% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £10.73 ** 2.7% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £5.43 per resident; similar councils £4.47 · up 3.6% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £1.22 ** 0.3% of this · £199k in 2025-26 · £0.62 per resident; similar councils £52 · down 6.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - Education ### Education £258.20 of your bill goes to education at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £223.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Primary schools £92.56 ** 35.8% of this · £80.3m in 2025-26 · £250 per resident; similar councils £287 · down 14.4% on 2024-25 - Other education £74.96 ** 29.0% of this · £65.0m in 2025-26 · £202 per resident; similar councils £66 · down 0.1% on 2024-25 - Special schools and alternative provision £35.51 ** 13.8% of this · £30.8m in 2025-26 · £96 per resident; similar councils £142 · up 4.1% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £32.03 ** 12.4% of this · £27.8m in 2025-26 · £86 per resident; similar councils £140 · up 35.4% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £16.65 ** 6.4% of this · £14.4m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident; similar councils £103 · up 44.1% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £6.49 ** 2.5% of this · £5.6m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 24.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £159.39 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £26.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Waste disposal £58.72 ** 36.8% of this · £10.1m in 2025-26 · £31 per resident; similar councils £31 · down 0.1% on 2024-25 - Waste collection £52.87 ** 33.2% of this · £9.1m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 5.4% on 2024-25 - Street cleaning £16.12 ** 10.1% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £8.59 per resident; similar councils £15 · down 1.9% on 2024-25 - Recycling and waste minimisation £11.61 ** 7.3% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £6.18 per resident; similar councils £16 · down 9.0% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £11.24 ** 7.1% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £5.99 per resident; similar councils £3.21 · down 24.5% on 2024-25 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £7.62 ** 4.8% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £4.06 per resident; similar councils £1.28 · up 80.5% on 2024-25 - Cemeteries and crematoria £1.21 ** 0.8% of this · £207k in 2025-26 · £0.64 per resident; similar councils £-0.71 · down 48.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £86.78 of your bill goes to running the council at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £14.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £41.99 ** 48.4% of this · £6.9m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 89.9% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £16.03 ** 18.5% of this · £2.6m in 2025-26 · £8.20 per resident; similar councils £2.51 · down 2.6% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £14.71 ** 17.0% of this · £2.4m in 2025-26 · £7.53 per resident; similar councils £0.62 · up 5.3% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £6.76 ** 7.8% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £3.46 per resident; similar councils £9.57 · down 10.0% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £4.05 ** 4.7% of this · £666k in 2025-26 · £2.07 per resident; similar councils £2.26 · down 88.1% on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £3.24 ** 3.7% of this · £533k in 2025-26 · £1.66 per resident; similar councils £2.67 · down 0.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £64.10 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £10.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Road and bridge maintenance £22.74 ** 35.5% of this · £4.0m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 18.3% on 2024-25 - Support for bus, rail and other public transport £16.19 ** 25.3% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £8.79 per resident; similar councils £12 · down 7.2% on 2024-25 - Concessionary bus fares £9.99 ** 15.6% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £5.43 per resident; similar councils £10 · up 14.4% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £9.07 ** 14.1% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £4.93 per resident; similar councils £9.17 · up 39.4% on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £5.03 ** 7.8% of this · £878k in 2025-26 · £2.73 per resident; similar councils £2.30 · down 5.8% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £1.09 ** 1.7% of this · £191k in 2025-26 · £0.59 per resident; similar councils £5.47 · down 72.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £56.40 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £9.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £33.44 ** 59.3% of this · £5.4m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 20.8% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £12.00 ** 21.3% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £6.08 per resident; similar councils £4.32 · down 6.2% on 2024-25 - Other General Fund housing £10.96 ** 19.4% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £5.55 per resident; similar councils £0.06 · down 13.1% 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. Central Bedfordshire's Housing Revenue Account took in £43.8m and spent £46.5m in 2025-26. [What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence). - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £28.28 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £4.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Libraries £16.97 ** 60.0% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £8.59 per resident; similar councils £12 · down 11.0% on 2024-25 - Sport and leisure £5.94 ** 21.0% of this · £967k in 2025-26 · £3.01 per resident; similar councils £3.38 · up 39.5% on 2024-25 - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £4.43 ** 15.7% of this · £721k in 2025-26 · £2.24 per resident; similar councils £18 · down 22.6% on 2024-25 - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £0.95 ** 3.3% of this · £154k in 2025-26 · £0.48 per resident; similar councils £8.34 · down 74.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £22.92 of your bill goes to planning and development at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £3.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Economic development and business support £15.78 ** 68.8% of this · £2.6m in 2025-26 · £8.00 per resident; similar councils £7.11 · up 796.2% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £4.28 ** 18.7% of this · £697k in 2025-26 · £2.17 per resident; similar councils £4.25 · up 162.0% on 2024-25 - Planning applications (development management) £2.87 ** 12.5% of this · £468k in 2025-26 · £1.46 per resident; similar councils £1.62 · down 72.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Central Bedfordshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Central Bedfordshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase £36.79 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 Central Bedfordshire's adult social care spending of £133.4m 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) £12.64 ** 34.4% of this precept · £45.9m in 2025-26 · £143 per resident; similar councils £166 · up 5.8% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.physical) £10.53 ** 28.6% of this precept · £38.2m in 2025-26 · £119 per resident; similar councils £140 · up 12.0% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £4.63 ** 12.6% of this precept · £16.8m in 2025-26 · £52 per resident; similar councils £43 · up 5.2% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £2.60 ** 7.1% of this precept · £9.5m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £6.52 · up 6.9% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £2.47 ** 6.7% of this precept · £9.0m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 22.0% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £1.96 ** 5.3% of this precept · £7.1m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £15 · down 0.9% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £1.43 ** 3.9% of this precept · £5.2m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 13.9% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.36 ** 1.0% of this precept · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £4.05 per resident; similar councils £0.96 · up 2.0% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.16 ** 0.4% of this precept · £586k in 2025-26 · £1.82 per resident; similar councils £2.49 · down 60.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £12.64 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £45.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £11.44 ** 90.5% of this · £41.5m in 2025-26 · £129 per resident; similar councils £151 · up 4.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.20 ** 9.5% of this · £4.4m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £17 · up 15.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £10.53 of your bill goes to physical support at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £38.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £8.28 ** 78.6% of this · £30.0m in 2025-26 · £93 per resident; similar councils £97 · up 9.0% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £2.25 ** 21.4% of this · £8.2m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £41 · up 24.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £2.47 of your bill goes to mental health support at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £9.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £1.84 ** 74.6% of this · £6.7m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 21.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.63 ** 25.4% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £7.10 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 22.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £1.43 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £5.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £1.24 ** 86.8% of this · £4.5m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 10.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.19 ** 13.2% of this · £685k in 2025-26 · £2.13 per resident; similar councils £2.56 · up 40.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Central Bedfordshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.36 of your bill goes to sensory support at Central Bedfordshire. Here is how its £1.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £0.20 ** 54.4% of this · £709k in 2025-26 · £2.20 per resident; similar councils £0.51 · down 8.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.16 ** 45.6% of this · £594k in 2025-26 · £1.85 per resident; similar councils £0.53 · up 17.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £297.59 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 Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £198.7m 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) - Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority ### Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £122.72 of your bill goes to Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Fire and rescue](#d-fire~fire) £114.23 ** 93.1% of this part · £37.2m in 2025-26 · £49 per resident; similar councils £54 · up 1.9% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-fire~central) £8.49 ** 6.9% of this part · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £3.66 per resident; similar councils £1.12 · up 5.4% on 2024-25 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 fire and rescue authorities closest in population: Hereford and Worcester Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, North Wales Fire Authority, Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority, East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, North Yorkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Durham Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Mid and West Wales Fire Authority, Cambridgeshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Cleveland Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Fire and rescue ### Fire and rescue £114.23 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £37.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Firefighting and rescue £100.55 ** 88.0% of this · £32.7m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £40 · up 1.4% on 2024-25 - Community fire safety £12.05 ** 10.6% of this · £3.9m in 2025-26 · £5.20 per resident; similar councils £3.85 · up 4.8% on 2024-25 - Fire emergency planning £1.63 ** 1.4% of this · £530k in 2025-26 · £0.70 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 8.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Running the council ### Running the council £8.49 of your bill goes to running the council at Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £2.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £5.30 ** 62.5% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £2.29 per resident; similar councils £1.05 · up 9.4% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £3.19 ** 37.5% of this · £1.0m in 2025-26 · £1.37 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 0.6% on 2024-25 ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Central Bedfordshire 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 | £721k | £2.24 | £18 | — | down 22.6% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£2.24Similar councils, per resident£18Per mile of road—Changedown 22.6% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £2.8m | £8.59 | £15 | £3,123 (similar: £2,703) | down 1.9% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£8.59Similar councils, per resident£15Per mile of road£3,123 (similar: £2,703)Changedown 1.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £4.0m | £12 | £18 | £4,493 (similar: £4,428) | up 18.3% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£12Similar councils, per resident£18Per mile of road£4,493 (similar: £4,428)Changeup 18.3% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £4.0m | £12 | £9.88 | £4,493 (similar: £2,022) | up 18.3% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£12Similar councils, per resident£9.88Per mile of road£4,493 (similar: £2,022)Changeup 18.3% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £878k | £2.73 | £2.30 | £993 (similar: £665) | down 5.8% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£2.73Similar councils, per resident£2.30Per mile of road£993 (similar: £665)Changedown 5.8% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £1.6m | £4.93 | £9.17 | £1,792 (similar: £1,776) | up 39.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£4.93Similar councils, per resident£9.17Per mile of road£1,792 (similar: £1,776)Changeup 39.4% 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 | £696 | £718 | | Median£718 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £415 | £483 | | Median£483 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £202 | £309 | | Median£309 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £81 | £111 | | Median£111 | | | | Public healthDetails | £46 | £65 | | Median£65 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £44 | £52 | | Median£52 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £32 | £49 | | Median£49 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £29 | £34 | | Median£34 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £14 | £38 | | Median£38 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £12 | £22 | | Median£22 | | | - Central Bedfordshire spent **38.6%** 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 Central Bedfordshire](/council-tax/england/central-bedfordshire/) and [everything else about Central Bedfordshire](/your-area/central-bedfordshire/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Central Bedfordshire? A Band D bill of £2,516.16 is split between Central Bedfordshire, Central Bedfordshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Bedfordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Parish and town councils (average for the area). In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £819.05.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 Central Bedfordshire UA](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/central-bedfordshire-ua/) - [Back to Central Bedfordshire: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/central-bedfordshire/) - [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.