# Where your council tax goes in Eastbourne

url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/eastbourne/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 Eastbourne



Last updated 29 September 2026.
Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/).





A Band D council tax bill in **Eastbourne** is **£2,654.28** for 2026-27, split between Eastbourne £294.59, East Sussex County Council £1,923.03, East Sussex County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase £37.26, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £281.91, East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £117.49. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at East Sussex County Council: **£905.49** of the bill. Council tax pays for 10% 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



- £2,654.28Band D bill, 2026-27


As of 6 April 2026
- £294.59Goes to Eastbourne itself (11%)


As of 6 April 2026
- £905.49Largest line: adult social care


As of 28 September 2026
- 10.2%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.



294.59

1923.03

37.26

281.91

117.49



Eastbourne 11%East Sussex County Council 72%East Sussex County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase 1%Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 11%East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 4%






## 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 10.2%** of the money
Eastbourne had to spend in 2025-26.


**********



- Council tax 10.2% £10.3m
- Business rates 5.0% £5.1m
- General government grant 0.2% £176k
- Government grants for specific services 31.4% £31.7m
- Fees, charges and other income 53.1% £53.5m




It also put £2.6m into its reserves that year.




**Council tax pays for 28.6%** of the money
East Sussex County Council had to spend in 2025-26.


************



- Council tax 28.6% £394.5m
- Business rates 7.5% £103.7m
- General government grant 0.4% £5.4m
- Government grants for specific services 37.0% £511.4m
- Fees, charges and other income 24.4% £336.6m
- Taken from reserves 2.1% £29.2m






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: £2,654.28


- [Eastbourne](#d-council)
£294.59

**
Your council · 11.1% of the bill
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
£1,923.03

**
County council · 72.5% of the bill
- [East Sussex County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care)
£37.26

**
County adult social care precept · 1.4% of the bill
- [Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police)
£281.91

**
Police · 10.6% of the bill
- [East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire)
£117.49

**
Fire and rescue · 4.4% of the bill






- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- Eastbourne





### Eastbourne



£294.59 of your bill goes to Eastbourne. It is shared out below in proportion to how
Eastbourne spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return.


- [Running the council](#d-council~central)
£83.07

**
28.2% of this part · £6.9m in 2025-26 · £66 per resident; similar councils £51 · down 17.6% on 2024-25
- [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment)
£73.44

**
24.9% of this part · £6.1m in 2025-26 · £59 per resident; similar councils £53 · up 77.0% on 2024-25
- [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure)
£61.64

**
20.9% of this part · £5.1m in 2025-26 · £49 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 116.1% on 2024-25
- [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing)
£52.98

**
18.0% of this part · £4.4m in 2025-26 · £42 per resident; similar councils £27 · up 123.8% on 2024-25
Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing).
- [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development)
£23.45

**
8.0% of this part · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 74.1% on 2024-25




Roads and transport brought in £596k more than it cost in 2025-26, so
it takes no share of your bill.







**Which councils count as similar**



Medians are across the 10 district councils in England closest in population: Tewkesbury, North Norfolk, Wyre Forest, Cannock Chase, Lincoln City, Hart, Broxbourne, Lewes, Bromsgrove, Fenland. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates.






- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [Eastbourne](#d-council)
- Running the council





### Running the council



£83.07 of your bill goes to running the council at Eastbourne. Here is how its £6.9m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Collecting council tax and business rates
£35.94

**
43.3% of this · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £14
- Corporate and democratic core
£34.77

**
41.9% of this · £2.9m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £23
- Elections and electoral registration
£4.53

**
5.4% of this · £376k in 2025-26 · £3.62 per resident; similar councils £3.40 · up 20.9% on 2024-25
- Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets)
£3.62

**
4.4% of this · £301k in 2025-26 · £2.90 per resident; similar councils £2.84 · up 3.8% on 2024-25
- Other central services
£2.96

**
3.6% of this · £246k in 2025-26 · £2.37 per resident; similar councils £1.20 · down 97.0% on 2024-25
- Emergency planning
£1.25

**
1.5% of this · £104k in 2025-26 · £1.00 per resident; similar councils £0.30 · down 7.1% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [Eastbourne](#d-council)
- Environment and regulation





### Environment and regulation



£73.44 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Eastbourne. Here is how its £6.1m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Waste collection
£59.22

**
80.6% of this · £6.2m in 2025-26 · £60 per resident; similar councils £22 · up 24.0% on 2024-25
- Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing
£7.00

**
9.5% of this · £738k in 2025-26 · £7.10 per resident; similar councils £9.21 · up 1150.8% on 2024-25
- Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection
£4.26

**
5.8% of this · £449k in 2025-26 · £4.32 per resident; similar councils £1.33 · up 31.7% on 2024-25
- Other environmental services
£1.62

**
2.2% of this · £171k in 2025-26 · £1.65 per resident; similar councils £0.00
- Community safety and CCTV
£1.04

**
1.4% of this · £110k in 2025-26 · £1.06 per resident; similar councils £2.30
- Public toilets
£0.30

**
0.4% of this · £32k in 2025-26 · £0.31 per resident; similar councils £0.38 · down 80.0% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [Eastbourne](#d-council)
- Parks, leisure, libraries and culture





### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture



£61.64 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Eastbourne. Here is how its £5.1m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Parks and open spaces (including play areas)
£42.68

**
69.2% of this · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £35 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 54.0% on 2024-25
- Museums, arts, heritage and archives
£15.88

**
25.8% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £1.20
- Tourism
£2.86

**
4.6% of this · £240k in 2025-26 · £2.31 per resident; similar councils £0.93 · down 48.9% on 2024-25
- Community centres and public halls
£0.23

**
0.4% of this · £19k in 2025-26 · £0.18 per resident; similar councils £0.00











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [Eastbourne](#d-council)
- Housing (not council homes)





### Housing (not council homes)



£52.98 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Eastbourne. Here is how its £4.4m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Homelessness and temporary accommodation
£50.74

**
95.8% of this · £4.2m in 2025-26 · £41 per resident; similar councils £9.74 · up 330.4% on 2024-25
- Housing strategy, advice and enabling
£1.89

**
3.6% of this · £157k in 2025-26 · £1.51 per resident; similar councils £3.15
- Private sector housing renewal
£0.35

**
0.7% of this · £29k in 2025-26 · £0.28 per resident; similar councils £0.50 · down 70.1% 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.
Eastbourne's Housing Revenue Account took in £20.6m and spent £20.6m in 2025-26.
[What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence).








- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [Eastbourne](#d-council)
- Planning and development





### Planning and development



£23.45 of your bill goes to planning and development at Eastbourne. Here is how its £1.9m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Economic development and business support
£9.60

**
40.9% of this · £797k in 2025-26 · £7.67 per resident; similar councils £5.56 · up 10.2% on 2024-25
- Planning policy
£7.74

**
33.0% of this · £643k in 2025-26 · £6.19 per resident; similar councils £3.27 · up 228.1% on 2024-25
- Planning applications (development management)
£4.41

**
18.8% of this · £366k in 2025-26 · £3.52 per resident; similar councils £6.42 · up 119.2% on 2024-25
- Community development
£1.07

**
4.6% of this · £89k in 2025-26 · £0.86 per resident; similar councils £0.20 · up 1171.4% on 2024-25
- Building control
£0.60

**
2.6% of this · £50k in 2025-26 · £0.48 per resident; similar councils £0.92 · up 100.0% on 2024-25
- Environmental initiatives
£0.04

**
0.2% of this · £3k in 2025-26 · £0.03 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 50.0% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- East Sussex County Council





### East Sussex County Council



£1,923.03 of your bill goes to East Sussex County Council. It is shared out below in proportion to how
East Sussex County Council spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return.


- [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care)
£905.49

**
47.1% of this part · £338.5m in 2025-26 · £602 per resident; similar councils £410 · up 6.3% on 2024-25
- [Children's social care](#d-county~childrens-social-care)
£420.75

**
21.9% of this part · £157.3m in 2025-26 · £280 per resident; similar councils £235 · up 0.7% on 2024-25
- [Education](#d-county~education)
£263.32

**
13.7% of this part · £393.1m in 2025-26 · £700 per resident; similar councils £702 · up 7.2% on 2024-25
- [Roads and transport](#d-county~highways-transport)
£123.50

**
6.4% of this part · £46.2m in 2025-26 · £82 per resident; similar councils £68 · up 8.6% on 2024-25
- [Environment and regulation](#d-county~environment)
£112.55

**
5.9% of this part · £42.1m in 2025-26 · £75 per resident; similar councils £52 · up 5.7% on 2024-25
- [Running the council](#d-county~central)
£39.52

**
2.1% of this part · £14.8m in 2025-26 · £26 per resident; similar councils £23 · up 2.3% on 2024-25
- [Housing (not council homes)](#d-county~housing)
£20.86

**
1.1% of this part · £7.8m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £3.26 · down 28.3% on 2024-25
Not council homes: [see the note](#d-county~housing).
- [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-county~culture-leisure)
£16.76

**
0.9% of this part · £6.3m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £17 · down 28.7% on 2024-25
- [Public health](#d-county~public-health)
£15.22

**
0.8% of this part · £38.2m in 2025-26 · £68 per resident; similar councils £47 · up 3.0% on 2024-25
- [Planning and development](#d-county~planning-development)
£5.06

**
0.3% of this part · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £3.37 per resident; similar councils £5.30 · down 34.9% on 2024-25





Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£294.7m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£32.5m) is taken off, because council tax does not pay for it.






**Which councils count as similar**



Medians are across the 10 county councils closest in population: Worcestershire County Council, Warwickshire County Council, Gloucestershire County Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Leicestershire County Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Suffolk County Council, Lincolnshire County Council, Derbyshire County Council, Devon County Council. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates.






- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- Adult social care





### Adult social care



£905.49 of your bill goes to adult social care at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £338.5m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- [Learning disability support](#d-county~adult-social-care.learning-disability)
£275.42

**
30.4% of this · £103.0m in 2025-26 · £183 per resident; similar councils £148 · up 5.6% on 2024-25
- [Physical support](#d-county~adult-social-care.physical)
£272.52

**
30.1% of this · £101.9m in 2025-26 · £181 per resident; similar councils £139 · up 8.0% on 2024-25
- [Support with memory and cognition](#d-county~adult-social-care.memory)
£99.18

**
11.0% of this · £37.1m in 2025-26 · £66 per resident; similar councils £31 · up 20.2% on 2024-25
- Care assessment and safeguarding
£97.99

**
10.8% of this · £36.6m in 2025-26 · £65 per resident; similar councils £44 · up 6.3% on 2024-25
- [Mental health support](#d-county~adult-social-care.mental-health)
£80.15

**
8.9% of this · £30.0m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £33 · up 5.7% on 2024-25
- Commissioning, strategy and administration
£45.34

**
5.0% of this · £16.9m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £21 · down 9.5% on 2024-25
- Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum)
£13.78

**
1.5% of this · £5.2m in 2025-26 · £9.17 per resident; similar councils £9.67 · down 18.4% on 2024-25
- Assistive equipment and technology
£12.34

**
1.4% of this · £4.6m in 2025-26 · £8.21 per resident; similar councils £5.48 · down 6.0% on 2024-25
- [Sensory support](#d-county~adult-social-care.sensory)
£5.28

**
0.6% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £3.51 per resident; similar councils £2.37 · up 0.9% on 2024-25
- Information and early intervention
£3.50

**
0.4% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £2.33 per resident; similar councils £3.20 · up 14.0% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care)
- Learning disability support





### Learning disability support



£275.42 of your bill goes to learning disability support at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £103.0m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 18 to 64
£246.19

**
89.4% of this · £92.0m in 2025-26 · £164 per resident; similar councils £129 · up 5.5% on 2024-25
- Aged 65 and over
£29.23

**
10.6% of this · £10.9m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 6.1% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care)
- Physical support





### Physical support



£272.52 of your bill goes to physical support at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £101.9m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 65 and over
£188.52

**
69.2% of this · £70.5m in 2025-26 · £125 per resident; similar councils £105 · up 8.1% on 2024-25
- Aged 18 to 64
£84.00

**
30.8% of this · £31.4m in 2025-26 · £56 per resident; similar councils £27 · up 7.9% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care)
- Support with memory and cognition





### Support with memory and cognition



£99.18 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £37.1m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 65 and over
£90.37

**
91.1% of this · £33.8m in 2025-26 · £60 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 19.2% on 2024-25
- Aged 18 to 64
£8.81

**
8.9% of this · £3.3m in 2025-26 · £5.86 per resident; similar councils £3.33 · up 32.2% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care)
- Mental health support





### Mental health support



£80.15 of your bill goes to mental health support at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £30.0m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 18 to 64
£49.32

**
61.5% of this · £18.4m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £20 · up 2.9% on 2024-25
- Aged 65 and over
£30.83

**
38.5% of this · £11.5m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 10.5% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care)
- Sensory support





### Sensory support



£5.28 of your bill goes to sensory support at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £2.0m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 18 to 64
£3.42

**
64.7% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £2.27 per resident; similar councils £0.87 · down 4.5% on 2024-25
- Aged 65 and over
£1.86

**
35.3% of this · £696k in 2025-26 · £1.24 per resident; similar councils £1.40 · up 12.6% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- Children's social care





### Children's social care



£420.75 of your bill goes to children's social care at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £157.3m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Children looked after
£275.40

**
65.5% of this · £103.0m in 2025-26 · £183 per resident; similar councils £136 · up 3.3% on 2024-25
- Family support
£48.06

**
11.4% of this · £18.0m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £28 · down 11.5% on 2024-25
- Safeguarding and social work
£45.59

**
10.8% of this · £17.0m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £46 · up 5.0% on 2024-25
- Services for young people
£28.31

**
6.7% of this · £10.6m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £5.91 · down 7.6% on 2024-25
- Other children's and families' services
£9.18

**
2.2% of this · £3.4m in 2025-26 · £6.11 per resident; similar councils £2.35 · up 20.5% on 2024-25
- Asylum-seeking children
£5.73

**
1.4% of this · £2.1m in 2025-26 · £3.81 per resident; similar councils £1.73 · down 3.6% on 2024-25
- Youth justice
£5.60

**
1.3% of this · £2.1m in 2025-26 · £3.72 per resident; similar councils £3.28 · up 15.6% on 2024-25
- Children's centres and early years
£2.89

**
0.7% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £1.92 per resident; similar councils £4.79 · down 35.3% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- Education





### Education



£263.32 of your bill goes to education at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £393.1m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Primary schools
£84.04

**
31.9% of this · £125.5m in 2025-26 · £223 per resident; similar councils £259 · down 5.0% on 2024-25
- Other education
£47.06

**
17.9% of this · £70.3m in 2025-26 · £125 per resident; similar councils £88 · up 5.2% on 2024-25
- Early years and nursery
£44.95

**
17.1% of this · £67.1m in 2025-26 · £119 per resident; similar councils £142 · up 44.5% on 2024-25
- Secondary schools
£43.24

**
16.4% of this · £64.6m in 2025-26 · £115 per resident; similar councils £52 · down 6.9% on 2024-25
- Special schools and alternative provision
£42.41

**
16.1% of this · £63.3m in 2025-26 · £113 per resident; similar councils £129 · up 26.2% on 2024-25
- Post-16
£1.62

**
0.6% of this · £2.4m in 2025-26 · £4.31 per resident; similar councils £22 · up 21.5% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- Roads and transport





### Roads and transport



£123.50 of your bill goes to roads and transport at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £46.2m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Support for bus, rail and other public transport
£40.03

**
32.4% of this · £15.9m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 26.2% on 2024-25
- [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-county~highways-transport.maintenance)
£32.53

**
26.3% of this · £12.9m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 20.8% on 2024-25
- Concessionary bus fares
£24.31

**
19.7% of this · £9.6m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £9.13 · up 0.6% on 2024-25
- Winter service (gritting)
£10.67

**
8.6% of this · £4.2m in 2025-26 · £7.53 per resident; similar councils £4.67 · up 3.4% on 2024-25
- Street lighting (including energy)
£7.58

**
6.1% of this · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £5.35 per resident; similar councils £6.56 · down 3.6% on 2024-25
- Transport planning and policy
£4.94

**
4.0% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £3.49 per resident; similar councils £3.14 · down 43.4% on 2024-25
- Traffic management and road safety
£3.44

**
2.8% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £2.43 per resident; similar councils £1.73 · up 9.6% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- [Roads and transport](#d-county~highways-transport)
- Road and bridge maintenance





### Road and bridge maintenance



£32.53 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £12.9m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)
£20.26

**
62.3% of this · £8.0m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £3.54 · up 18.3% on 2024-25
- Environmental, safety and routine maintenance
£12.27

**
37.7% of this · £4.9m in 2025-26 · £8.66 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 25.2% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- Environment and regulation





### Environment and regulation



£112.55 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £42.1m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Waste disposal
£102.53

**
91.1% of this · £38.3m in 2025-26 · £68 per resident; similar councils £34 · up 4.7% on 2024-25
- Community safety and CCTV
£5.99

**
5.3% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £3.99 per resident; similar councils £0.01 · up 37.2% on 2024-25
- Trading standards
£2.61

**
2.3% of this · £976k in 2025-26 · £1.74 per resident; similar councils £2.27 · down 6.2% on 2024-25
- Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection
£1.41

**
1.3% of this · £528k in 2025-26 · £0.94 per resident; similar councils £1.49 · up 4.3% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- Running the council





### Running the council



£39.52 of your bill goes to running the council at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £14.8m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets)
£12.89

**
32.6% of this · £4.8m in 2025-26 · £8.58 per resident; similar councils £1.37 · up 16.0% on 2024-25
- Corporate and democratic core
£10.85

**
27.5% of this · £4.1m in 2025-26 · £7.22 per resident; similar councils £11 · down 0.1% on 2024-25
- Local welfare assistance
£8.80

**
22.3% of this · £3.3m in 2025-26 · £5.86 per resident; similar councils £6.27 · down 9.0% on 2024-25
- Coroners' and other courts
£5.41

**
13.7% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £3.60 per resident; similar councils £2.50 · up 5.0% on 2024-25
- Registering births, deaths and marriages
£0.71

**
1.8% of this · £266k in 2025-26 · £0.47 per resident; similar councils £-0.28 · up 16.7% on 2024-25
- Emergency planning
£0.59

**
1.5% of this · £222k in 2025-26 · £0.40 per resident; similar councils £0.50 · down 15.3% on 2024-25
- Collecting council tax and business rates
£0.15

**
0.4% of this · £57k in 2025-26 · £0.10 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 70.8% on 2024-25
- Elections and electoral registration
£0.10

**
0.3% of this · £38k in 2025-26 · £0.07 per resident; similar councils £2.14











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- Housing (not council homes)





### Housing (not council homes)



£20.86 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £7.8m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Supporting People and welfare services
£20.53

**
98.4% of this · £7.7m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £3.19 · down 28.8% on 2024-25
- Other General Fund housing
£0.33

**
1.6% of this · £123k in 2025-26 · £0.22 per resident; similar councils £0.07 · up 32.3% 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.
East Sussex County Council reported no Housing Revenue Account for 2025-26: it has no council homes of its own, or they were transferred to a housing association.
[What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence).








- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- Parks, leisure, libraries and culture





### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture



£16.76 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £6.3m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Libraries
£12.74

**
76.0% of this · £4.8m in 2025-26 · £8.47 per resident; similar councils £9.81 · down 9.2% on 2024-25
- Museums, arts, heritage and archives
£3.09

**
18.4% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £2.05 per resident; similar councils £2.60 · down 0.7% on 2024-25
- Tourism
£0.53

**
3.1% of this · £197k in 2025-26 · £0.35 per resident; similar councils £0.02 · down 37.7% on 2024-25
- Parks and open spaces (including play areas)
£0.41

**
2.4% of this · £152k in 2025-26 · £0.27 per resident; similar councils £1.51 · down 92.6% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- Public health





### Public health



£15.22 of your bill goes to public health at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £38.2m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Drug and alcohol services
£3.73

**
24.5% of this · £9.4m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 3.3% on 2024-25
- Health visiting and children's 0-5 services
£3.41

**
22.4% of this · £8.6m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 8.3% on 2024-25
- Sexual health
£1.92

**
12.6% of this · £4.8m in 2025-26 · £8.59 per resident; similar councils £8.11 · up 0.4% on 2024-25
- Children's 5-19 programmes
£1.36

**
8.9% of this · £3.4m in 2025-26 · £6.05 per resident; similar councils £4.59 · up 8.0% on 2024-25
- Public mental health
£1.23

**
8.1% of this · £3.1m in 2025-26 · £5.51 per resident; similar councils £0.86 · up 42.0% on 2024-25
- NHS health checks and health protection
£1.10

**
7.2% of this · £2.7m in 2025-26 · £4.89 per resident; similar councils £2.13 · down 14.4% on 2024-25
- Stop smoking and tobacco control
£1.04

**
6.8% of this · £2.6m in 2025-26 · £4.64 per resident; similar councils £2.10 · up 12.4% on 2024-25
- Other public health
£0.89

**
5.9% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £3.99 per resident; similar councils £5.34 · down 17.0% on 2024-25
- Obesity and physical activity
£0.54

**
3.6% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £2.42 per resident; similar councils £2.25 · down 22.5% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council](#d-county)
- Planning and development





### Planning and development



£5.06 of your bill goes to planning and development at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £1.9m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Economic development and business support
£2.89

**
57.1% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £1.92 per resident; similar councils £3.06 · down 26.5% on 2024-25
- Environmental initiatives
£1.14

**
22.5% of this · £426k in 2025-26 · £0.76 per resident; similar councils £0.80 · down 61.7% on 2024-25
- Planning applications (development management)
£1.03

**
20.4% of this · £386k in 2025-26 · £0.69 per resident; similar councils £0.62 · up 18.0% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- East Sussex County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase





### East Sussex County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase



£37.26 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 East Sussex County Council's adult social care spending of
£338.5m 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.


- [Learning disability support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability)
£11.33

**
30.4% of this precept · £103.0m in 2025-26 · £183 per resident; similar councils £148 · up 5.6% on 2024-25
- [Physical support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.physical)
£11.21

**
30.1% of this precept · £101.9m in 2025-26 · £181 per resident; similar councils £139 · up 8.0% on 2024-25
- [Support with memory and cognition](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory)
£4.08

**
11.0% of this precept · £37.1m in 2025-26 · £66 per resident; similar councils £31 · up 20.2% on 2024-25
- Care assessment and safeguarding
£4.03

**
10.8% of this precept · £36.6m in 2025-26 · £65 per resident; similar councils £44 · up 6.3% on 2024-25
- [Mental health support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health)
£3.30

**
8.9% of this precept · £30.0m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £33 · up 5.7% on 2024-25
- Commissioning, strategy and administration
£1.87

**
5.0% of this precept · £16.9m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £21 · down 9.5% on 2024-25
- Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum)
£0.57

**
1.5% of this precept · £5.2m in 2025-26 · £9.17 per resident; similar councils £9.67 · down 18.4% on 2024-25
- Assistive equipment and technology
£0.51

**
1.4% of this precept · £4.6m in 2025-26 · £8.21 per resident; similar councils £5.48 · down 6.0% on 2024-25
- [Sensory support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory)
£0.22

**
0.6% of this precept · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £3.51 per resident; similar councils £2.37 · up 0.9% on 2024-25
- Information and early intervention
£0.14

**
0.4% of this precept · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £2.33 per resident; similar councils £3.20 · up 14.0% on 2024-25





- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care)
- Learning disability support





### Learning disability support



£11.33 of your bill goes to learning disability support at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £103.0m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 18 to 64
£10.13

**
89.4% of this · £92.0m in 2025-26 · £164 per resident; similar councils £129 · up 5.5% on 2024-25
- Aged 65 and over
£1.20

**
10.6% of this · £10.9m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 6.1% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care)
- Physical support





### Physical support



£11.21 of your bill goes to physical support at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £101.9m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 65 and over
£7.76

**
69.2% of this · £70.5m in 2025-26 · £125 per resident; similar councils £105 · up 8.1% on 2024-25
- Aged 18 to 64
£3.46

**
30.8% of this · £31.4m in 2025-26 · £56 per resident; similar councils £27 · up 7.9% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care)
- Support with memory and cognition





### Support with memory and cognition



£4.08 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £37.1m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 65 and over
£3.72

**
91.1% of this · £33.8m in 2025-26 · £60 per resident; similar councils £28 · up 19.2% on 2024-25
- Aged 18 to 64
£0.36

**
8.9% of this · £3.3m in 2025-26 · £5.86 per resident; similar councils £3.33 · up 32.2% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care)
- Mental health support





### Mental health support



£3.30 of your bill goes to mental health support at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £30.0m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 18 to 64
£2.03

**
61.5% of this · £18.4m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £20 · up 2.9% on 2024-25
- Aged 65 and over
£1.27

**
38.5% of this · £11.5m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 10.5% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [East Sussex County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care)
- Sensory support





### Sensory support



£0.22 of your bill goes to sensory support at East Sussex County Council. Here is how its £2.0m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 18 to 64
£0.14

**
64.7% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £2.27 per resident; similar councils £0.87 · down 4.5% on 2024-25
- Aged 65 and over
£0.08

**
35.3% of this · £696k in 2025-26 · £1.24 per resident; similar councils £1.40 · up 12.6% 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 Eastbourne and East Sussex County Council 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 | £3.6m | £35 | £11 | — | up 54.0% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£35Similar councils, per resident£11Per mile of road—Changeup 54.0% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £38k | £0.37 | £4.08 | — | up 442.9% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£0.37Similar councils, per resident£4.08Per mile of road—Changeup 442.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £38k | £0.37 | £4.08 | — | up 442.9% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£0.37Similar councils, per resident£4.08Per mile of road—Changeup 442.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Street lighting (including energy)Details | £18k | £0.17 | £0.21 | — | down 48.6% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£0.17Similar councils, per resident£0.21Per mile of road—Changedown 48.6% on 2024-25 | | | | | |






| Line | Net spending | Per resident | Similar councils, per resident | Per mile of road | Change |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Parks and open spaces (including play areas)Details | £152k | £0.27 | £1.55 | — | down 92.6% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£0.27Similar councils, per resident£1.55Per mile of road—Changedown 92.6% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £12.9m | £23 | £28 | £6,314 (similar: £5,441) | up 20.8% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£23Similar councils, per resident£28Per mile of road£6,314 (similar: £5,441)Changeup 20.8% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £4.9m | £8.66 | £18 | £2,382 (similar: £4,193) | up 25.2% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£8.66Similar councils, per resident£18Per mile of road£2,382 (similar: £4,193)Changeup 25.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £8.0m | £14 | £3.54 | £3,932 (similar: £845) | up 18.3% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£14Similar councils, per resident£3.54Per mile of road£3,932 (similar: £845)Changeup 18.3% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Winter service (gritting)Details | £4.2m | £7.53 | £4.67 | £2,070 (similar: £1,056) | up 3.4% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£7.53Similar councils, per resident£4.67Per mile of road£2,070 (similar: £1,056)Changeup 3.4% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Street lighting (including energy)Details | £3.0m | £5.35 | £6.56 | £1,471 (similar: £1,408) | down 3.6% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£5.35Similar councils, per resident£6.56Per mile of road£1,471 (similar: £1,408)Changedown 3.6% 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Running the councilDetails | £66 | £41 |
| Median£41 | | |
| Environment and regulationDetails | £59 | £56 |
| Median£56 | | |
| Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £49 | £23 |
| Median£23 | | |
| Housing (not council homes)Details | £42 | £24 |
| Median£24 | | |
| Planning and developmentDetails | £19 | £22 |
| Median£22 | | |
| Roads and transportDetails | £-5.74 | £-4.18 |
| Median£-4.18 | | |





- Eastbourne spent **45.1%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for district councils in England: 39.3%); the rest went on suppliers, contractors, grants, benefits and other running costs.








| Service | Per resident | Median |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EducationDetails | £700 | £736 |
| Median£736 | | |
| Adult social careDetails | £602 | £447 |
| Median£447 | | |
| Children's social careDetails | £280 | £239 |
| Median£239 | | |
| Roads and transportDetails | £82 | £65 |
| Median£65 | | |
| Environment and regulationDetails | £75 | £57 |
| Median£57 | | |
| Public healthDetails | £68 | £52 |
| Median£52 | | |
| Running the councilDetails | £26 | £21 |
| Median£21 | | |
| Housing (not council homes)Details | £14 | £2.98 |
| Median£2.98 | | |
| Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £11 | £17 |
| Median£17 | | |
| Planning and developmentDetails | £3.37 | £5.56 |
| Median£5.56 | | |





- East Sussex County Council spent **27.8%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for county councils: 28.8%); 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 Eastbourne](/council-tax/england/eastbourne/) and [everything else about Eastbourne](/your-area/eastbourne/).





## Common questions


What does council tax pay for in Eastbourne?
A Band D bill of £2,654.28 is split between Eastbourne, East Sussex County Council, East Sussex County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £905.49.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 Eastbourne](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/eastbourne/)
- [Back to Eastbourne: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/eastbourne/)
- [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.