# Where your council tax goes in Preston

url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/preston/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 Preston



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





A Band D council tax bill in **Preston** is **£2,575.74** for 2026-27, split between Preston £375.34, Lancashire County Council £1,767.03, Lancashire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase £34.72, Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £292.40, Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £94.73, Parish and town councils (average for the area) £11.52. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Lancashire County Council: **£730.41** of the bill. Council tax pays for 16% 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



- £2,575.74Band D bill, 2026-27


As of 6 April 2026
- £375.34Goes to Preston itself (15%)


As of 6 April 2026
- £730.41Largest line: adult social care


As of 28 September 2026
- 15.9%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.



375.34

1767.03

34.72

292.40

94.73

11.52



Preston 15%Lancashire County Council 69%Lancashire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase 1%Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 11%Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 4%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 15.9%** of the money
Preston had to spend in 2025-26.


**********



- Council tax 15.9% £16.1m
- Business rates 7.8% £7.9m
- General government grant 0.3% £256k
- Government grants for specific services 43.1% £43.7m
- Fees, charges and other income 32.9% £33.3m




It also put £4.9m into its reserves that year.




**Council tax pays for 21.1%** of the money
Lancashire County Council had to spend in 2025-26.


**********



- Council tax 21.1% £684.8m
- Business rates 8.0% £258.3m
- General government grant 1.3% £43.3m
- Government grants for specific services 52.3% £1.70bn
- Fees, charges and other income 17.3% £562.8m




It also put £3.8m into its reserves that year.




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: £2,575.74


- [Preston](#d-council)
£375.34

**
Your council · 14.6% of the bill
- [Lancashire County Council](#d-county)
£1,767.03

**
County council · 68.6% of the bill
- [Lancashire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-county-adult-social-care)
£34.72

**
County adult social care precept · 1.3% of the bill
- [Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police)
£292.40

**
Police · 11.4% of the bill
- [Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire)
£94.73

**
Fire and rescue · 3.7% of the bill
- Parish and town councils (average for the area)
£11.52

**
Parish or town council · 0.4% 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)
- Preston





### Preston



£375.34 of your bill goes to Preston. It is shared out below in proportion to how
Preston spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return.


- [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment)
£91.31

**
24.3% of this part · £9.1m in 2025-26 · £56 per resident; similar councils £56 · up 12.1% on 2024-25
- [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development)
£87.79

**
23.4% of this part · £8.8m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 7.7% on 2024-25
- [Running the council](#d-council~central)
£84.82

**
22.6% of this part · £8.5m in 2025-26 · £52 per resident; similar councils £50 · up 16.0% on 2024-25
- [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure)
£52.74

**
14.1% of this part · £5.3m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 16.6% on 2024-25
- [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing)
£46.93

**
12.5% of this part · £4.7m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £25 · down 3.2% on 2024-25
Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing).
- Public health
£6.45

**
1.7% of this part · £646k in 2025-26 · £3.93 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 498.1% on 2024-25
- [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport)
£4.01

**
1.1% of this part · £401k in 2025-26 · £2.44 per resident; similar councils £-7.75 · up 38.3% on 2024-25
- Other services
£1.29

**
0.3% of this part · £129k in 2025-26 · £0.78 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 126.3% on 2024-25









**Which councils count as similar**



Medians are across the 10 district councils in England closest in population: Mid Sussex, Oxford, Canterbury, Braintree, Dacorum, Wealden, Swale, East Devon, Reigate and Banstead, Tendring. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates.






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





### Environment and regulation



£91.31 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Preston. Here is how its £9.1m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Street cleaning
£24.33

**
26.6% of this · £2.5m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 8.1% on 2024-25
- Waste collection
£22.08

**
24.2% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £22 · up 16.2% on 2024-25
- Recycling and waste minimisation
£20.71

**
22.7% of this · £2.1m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £0.42 · up 22.5% on 2024-25
- Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing
£19.99

**
21.9% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £8.65 · up 3.1% on 2024-25
- Community safety and CCTV
£2.45

**
2.7% of this · £248k in 2025-26 · £1.51 per resident; similar councils £3.34 · up 39.3% on 2024-25
- Trade waste
£1.02

**
1.1% of this · £103k in 2025-26 · £0.63 per resident; similar councils £0.00
- Public toilets
£0.45

**
0.5% of this · £46k in 2025-26 · £0.28 per resident; similar councils £1.15 · up 27.8% on 2024-25
- Other environmental services
£0.29

**
0.3% of this · £29k in 2025-26 · £0.18 per resident; similar councils £0.13 · down 55.4% on 2024-25











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





### Planning and development



£87.79 of your bill goes to planning and development at Preston. Here is how its £8.8m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Economic development and business support
£72.01

**
82.0% of this · £7.2m in 2025-26 · £44 per resident; similar councils £3.00 · up 0.8% on 2024-25
- Community development
£7.46

**
8.5% of this · £747k in 2025-26 · £4.54 per resident; similar councils £2.86 · up 166.8% on 2024-25
- Planning policy
£5.52

**
6.3% of this · £553k in 2025-26 · £3.36 per resident; similar councils £4.92 · up 6.6% on 2024-25
- Building control
£1.41

**
1.6% of this · £141k in 2025-26 · £0.86 per resident; similar councils £1.69 · down 47.0% on 2024-25
- Planning applications (development management)
£1.34

**
1.5% of this · £134k in 2025-26 · £0.81 per resident; similar councils £5.60
- Environmental initiatives
£0.05

**
under 0.1% of this · £5k in 2025-26 · £0.03 per resident; similar councils £0.06











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





### Running the council



£84.82 of your bill goes to running the council at Preston. Here is how its £8.5m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Corporate and democratic core
£33.53

**
39.5% of this · £3.4m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 1.5% on 2024-25
- Collecting council tax and business rates
£18.63

**
22.0% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £8.13 · up 32.4% on 2024-25
- Other central services
£16.85

**
19.9% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £10 per resident; similar councils £0.59 · up 102.3% on 2024-25
- Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets)
£9.92

**
11.7% of this · £993k in 2025-26 · £6.04 per resident; similar councils £2.59 · up 28.0% on 2024-25
- Elections and electoral registration
£4.52

**
5.3% of this · £453k in 2025-26 · £2.75 per resident; similar councils £2.67 · down 52.5% on 2024-25
- Emergency planning
£1.37

**
1.6% of this · £137k in 2025-26 · £0.83 per resident; similar councils £0.36 · up 226.2% on 2024-25











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





### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture



£52.74 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Preston. Here is how its £5.3m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Parks and open spaces (including play areas)
£28.20

**
53.5% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 1.7% on 2024-25
- Museums, arts, heritage and archives
£24.00

**
45.5% of this · £2.4m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £2.42 · up 43.7% on 2024-25
- Libraries
£0.52

**
1.0% of this · £52k in 2025-26 · £0.32 per resident; similar councils £0.00
- Sport and leisure
£0.02

**
under 0.1% of this · £2k in 2025-26 · £0.01 per resident; similar councils £2.59











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





### Housing (not council homes)



£46.93 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Preston. Here is how its £4.7m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Homelessness and temporary accommodation
£21.21

**
45.2% of this · £2.1m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 31.1% on 2024-25
- Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments
£12.55

**
26.7% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £7.64 per resident; similar councils £7.78 · up 47.4% on 2024-25
- Housing strategy, advice and enabling
£9.64

**
20.5% of this · £965k in 2025-26 · £5.87 per resident; similar councils £1.08 · up 64.4% on 2024-25
- Private sector housing renewal
£3.35

**
7.1% of this · £335k in 2025-26 · £2.04 per resident; similar councils £0.58 · up 15.9% on 2024-25
- Other General Fund housing
£0.19

**
0.4% of this · £19k in 2025-26 · £0.12 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 54.8% on 2024-25







**Council homes are not in this.** Council housing is paid for through the Housing Revenue Account,
from tenants' rents, and the law keeps it separate from the General Fund that council tax goes into.
Preston 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)
- [Preston](#d-council)
- Roads and transport





### Roads and transport



£4.01 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Preston. Here is how its £401k of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Other transport (airports, harbours, tolls)
£1.75

**
43.7% of this · £253k in 2025-26 · £1.54 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 10.6% on 2024-25
- Road and bridge maintenance
£1.44

**
35.9% of this · £208k in 2025-26 · £1.26 per resident; similar councils £0.02 · up 61.2% on 2024-25
- Street lighting (including energy)
£0.57

**
14.2% of this · £82k in 2025-26 · £0.50 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 13.9% on 2024-25
- Support for bus, rail and other public transport
£0.25

**
6.2% of this · £36k in 2025-26 · £0.22 per resident; similar councils £0.01 · up 157.1% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- Lancashire County Council





### Lancashire County Council



£1,767.03 of your bill goes to Lancashire County Council. It is shared out below in proportion to how
Lancashire County Council spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return.


- [Adult social care](#d-county~adult-social-care)
£730.41

**
41.3% of this part · £617.1m in 2025-26 · £472 per resident; similar councils £462 · up 5.6% on 2024-25
- [Children's social care](#d-county~childrens-social-care)
£372.39

**
21.1% of this part · £314.6m in 2025-26 · £240 per resident; similar councils £245 · up 7.9% on 2024-25
- [Education](#d-county~education)
£338.80

**
19.2% of this part · £1.40bn in 2025-26 · £1,073 per resident; similar councils £721 · up 10.8% on 2024-25
- [Environment and regulation](#d-county~environment)
£117.04

**
6.6% of this part · £98.9m in 2025-26 · £76 per resident; similar councils £58 · up 4.8% on 2024-25
- [Roads and transport](#d-county~highways-transport)
£91.42

**
5.2% of this part · £77.2m in 2025-26 · £59 per resident; similar councils £69 · up 12.8% on 2024-25
- [Running the council](#d-county~central)
£48.44

**
2.7% of this part · £40.9m in 2025-26 · £31 per resident; similar councils £16 · down 2.3% on 2024-25
- [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-county~culture-leisure)
£28.91

**
1.6% of this part · £24.4m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 3.3% on 2024-25
- [Public health](#d-county~public-health)
£21.55

**
1.2% of this part · £99.9m in 2025-26 · £76 per resident; similar councils £52 · up 2.3% on 2024-25
- [Planning and development](#d-county~planning-development)
£18.06

**
1.0% of this part · £15.3m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £5.57 · up 100.8% on 2024-25





Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£1.12bn) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£81.7m) 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: Surrey County Council, Hertfordshire County Council, Hampshire County Council, Essex County Council, Kent County Council, Norfolk County Council, West Sussex County Council, Staffordshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Devon County Council. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates.






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





### Adult social care



£730.41 of your bill goes to adult social care at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £617.1m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- [Physical support](#d-county~adult-social-care.physical)
£238.47

**
32.6% of this · £201.5m in 2025-26 · £154 per resident; similar councils £149 · up 12.9% on 2024-25
- [Learning disability support](#d-county~adult-social-care.learning-disability)
£211.39

**
28.9% of this · £178.6m in 2025-26 · £136 per resident; similar councils £147 · up 0.2% on 2024-25
- [Support with memory and cognition](#d-county~adult-social-care.memory)
£74.11

**
10.1% of this · £62.6m in 2025-26 · £48 per resident; similar councils £27 · down 16.9% on 2024-25
- Commissioning, strategy and administration
£68.18

**
9.3% of this · £57.6m in 2025-26 · £44 per resident; similar councils £30 · up 7.1% on 2024-25
- Care assessment and safeguarding
£60.60

**
8.3% of this · £51.2m in 2025-26 · £39 per resident; similar councils £38 · up 13.0% on 2024-25
- [Mental health support](#d-county~adult-social-care.mental-health)
£51.27

**
7.0% of this · £43.3m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £30 · down 2.6% on 2024-25
- Assistive equipment and technology
£9.49

**
1.3% of this · £8.0m in 2025-26 · £6.12 per resident; similar councils £4.54
- Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum)
£8.98

**
1.2% of this · £7.6m in 2025-26 · £5.80 per resident; similar councils £6.28 · up 53.0% on 2024-25
- [Sensory support](#d-county~adult-social-care.sensory)
£3.99

**
0.5% of this · £3.4m in 2025-26 · £2.58 per resident; similar councils £3.62 · up 13.6% on 2024-25
- Information and early intervention
£3.93

**
0.5% of this · £3.3m in 2025-26 · £2.54 per resident; similar councils £1.87 · up 80.7% on 2024-25











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





### Physical support



£238.47 of your bill goes to physical support at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £201.5m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 65 and over
£167.57

**
70.3% of this · £141.6m in 2025-26 · £108 per resident; similar councils £109 · up 11.9% on 2024-25
- Aged 18 to 64
£70.91

**
29.7% of this · £59.9m in 2025-26 · £46 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 15.3% on 2024-25











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





### Learning disability support



£211.39 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £178.6m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 18 to 64
£186.28

**
88.1% of this · £157.4m in 2025-26 · £120 per resident; similar councils £127 · up 0.5% on 2024-25
- Aged 65 and over
£25.11

**
11.9% of this · £21.2m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £17 · down 2.0% on 2024-25











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





### Support with memory and cognition



£74.11 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £62.6m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 65 and over
£69.82

**
94.2% of this · £59.0m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident; similar councils £25 · down 15.6% on 2024-25
- Aged 18 to 64
£4.30

**
5.8% of this · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £2.78 per resident; similar councils £1.99 · down 33.4% on 2024-25











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





### Mental health support



£51.27 of your bill goes to mental health support at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £43.3m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 18 to 64
£32.13

**
62.7% of this · £27.1m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £20 · up 8.2% on 2024-25
- Aged 65 and over
£19.14

**
37.3% of this · £16.2m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £11 · down 16.6% on 2024-25











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





### Sensory support



£3.99 of your bill goes to sensory support at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £3.4m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 65 and over
£2.11

**
52.9% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £1.36 per resident; similar councils £1.64 · up 25.3% on 2024-25
- Aged 18 to 64
£1.88

**
47.1% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £1.21 per resident; similar councils £1.63 · up 2.8% on 2024-25











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





### Children's social care



£372.39 of your bill goes to children's social care at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £314.6m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Children looked after
£220.75

**
59.3% of this · £186.5m in 2025-26 · £143 per resident; similar councils £152 · up 8.1% on 2024-25
- Safeguarding and social work
£59.39

**
15.9% of this · £50.2m in 2025-26 · £38 per resident; similar councils £47 · up 7.5% on 2024-25
- Family support
£51.64

**
13.9% of this · £43.6m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £36 · up 11.2% on 2024-25
- Children's centres and early years
£14.35

**
3.9% of this · £12.1m in 2025-26 · £9.27 per resident; similar councils £3.24 · down 11.3% on 2024-25
- Services for young people
£10.41

**
2.8% of this · £8.8m in 2025-26 · £6.72 per resident; similar councils £2.39 · up 43.7% on 2024-25
- Asylum-seeking children
£10.40

**
2.8% of this · £8.8m in 2025-26 · £6.71 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 2.2% on 2024-25
- Youth justice
£5.22

**
1.4% of this · £4.4m in 2025-26 · £3.37 per resident; similar councils £2.58 · up 1.2% on 2024-25
- Other children's and families' services
£0.23

**
under 0.1% of this · £192k in 2025-26 · £0.15 per resident; similar councils £0.40











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





### Education



£338.80 of your bill goes to education at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £1.40bn of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Primary schools
£147.46

**
43.5% of this · £610.9m in 2025-26 · £467 per resident; similar councils £226 · up 4.3% on 2024-25
- Secondary schools
£67.88

**
20.0% of this · £281.2m in 2025-26 · £215 per resident; similar councils £65 · down 2.6% on 2024-25
- Special schools and alternative provision
£52.18

**
15.4% of this · £216.2m in 2025-26 · £165 per resident; similar councils £155 · up 24.9% on 2024-25
- Early years and nursery
£48.43

**
14.3% of this · £200.6m in 2025-26 · £153 per resident; similar councils £147 · up 44.0% on 2024-25
- Other education
£22.86

**
6.7% of this · £94.7m in 2025-26 · £72 per resident; similar councils £89 · up 18.8% on 2024-25











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





### Environment and regulation



£117.04 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £98.9m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Waste disposal
£109.63

**
93.7% of this · £92.6m in 2025-26 · £71 per resident; similar councils £42 · up 4.9% on 2024-25
- Trading standards
£3.56

**
3.0% of this · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £2.30 per resident; similar councils £2.35 · up 1.8% on 2024-25
- Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing
£2.50

**
2.1% of this · £2.1m in 2025-26 · £1.61 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 2.4% on 2024-25
- Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection
£0.86

**
0.7% of this · £730k in 2025-26 · £0.56 per resident; similar councils £0.75 · down 13.3% on 2024-25
- Recycling and waste minimisation
£0.49

**
0.4% of this · £413k in 2025-26 · £0.32 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 215.3% on 2024-25











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





### Roads and transport



£91.42 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £77.2m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Support for bus, rail and other public transport
£35.51

**
38.8% of this · £30.0m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 29.4% on 2024-25
- Concessionary bus fares
£21.41

**
23.4% of this · £18.1m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £9.89 · up 11.8% on 2024-25
- [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-county~highways-transport.maintenance)
£20.51

**
22.4% of this · £17.3m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 13.0% on 2024-25
- Street lighting (including energy)
£7.32

**
8.0% of this · £6.2m in 2025-26 · £4.73 per resident; similar councils £8.04 · down 27.3% on 2024-25
- Winter service (gritting)
£4.88

**
5.3% of this · £4.1m in 2025-26 · £3.16 per resident; similar councils £2.65 · down 19.3% on 2024-25
- Transport planning and policy
£1.50

**
1.6% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £0.97 per resident; similar councils £2.71 · up 148.0% on 2024-25
- Parking
£0.29

**
0.3% of this · £242k in 2025-26 · £0.18 per resident; similar councils £-0.05 · up 27.4% on 2024-25











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





### Road and bridge maintenance



£20.51 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £17.3m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Environmental, safety and routine maintenance
£16.34

**
79.7% of this · £13.8m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £23 · up 23.1% on 2024-25
- Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)
£4.17

**
20.3% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £2.69 per resident; similar councils £2.56 · down 14.5% on 2024-25











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





### Running the council



£48.44 of your bill goes to running the council at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £40.9m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Local welfare assistance
£20.16

**
41.6% of this · £17.0m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £0.00
- Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets)
£14.97

**
30.9% of this · £12.6m in 2025-26 · £9.66 per resident; similar councils £1.59 · up 3.2% on 2024-25
- Corporate and democratic core
£4.89

**
10.1% of this · £4.1m in 2025-26 · £3.16 per resident; similar councils £6.01 · down 81.2% on 2024-25
- Coroners' and other courts
£3.72

**
7.7% of this · £3.1m in 2025-26 · £2.40 per resident; similar councils £2.88 · down 3.6% on 2024-25
- Elections and electoral registration
£3.31

**
6.8% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £2.14 per resident; similar councils £0.23 · up 6117.8% on 2024-25
- Emergency planning
£0.90

**
1.9% of this · £763k in 2025-26 · £0.58 per resident; similar councils £0.38 · down 24.2% on 2024-25
- Other central services
£0.26

**
0.5% of this · £216k in 2025-26 · £0.17 per resident; similar councils £0.09 · down 92.9% on 2024-25
- Registering births, deaths and marriages
£0.23

**
0.5% of this · £196k in 2025-26 · £0.15 per resident; similar councils £-0.51 · down 39.3% on 2024-25











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





### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture



£28.91 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £24.4m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Libraries
£19.63

**
67.9% of this · £16.6m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 1.0% on 2024-25
- Parks and open spaces (including play areas)
£5.18

**
17.9% of this · £4.4m in 2025-26 · £3.34 per resident; similar councils £2.67 · up 32.5% on 2024-25
- Museums, arts, heritage and archives
£4.10

**
14.2% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £2.65 per resident; similar councils £1.78 · down 11.9% on 2024-25











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





### Public health



£21.55 of your bill goes to public health at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £99.9m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Drug and alcohol services
£6.08

**
28.2% of this · £28.2m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £9.94 · up 7.1% on 2024-25
- Health visiting and children's 0-5 services
£5.49

**
25.5% of this · £25.4m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 41.8% on 2024-25
- Other public health
£3.35

**
15.5% of this · £15.5m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £7.30 · down 36.3% on 2024-25
- Children's 5-19 programmes
£1.88

**
8.7% of this · £8.7m in 2025-26 · £6.66 per resident; similar councils £4.09 · up 12.8% on 2024-25
- Sexual health
£1.85

**
8.6% of this · £8.6m in 2025-26 · £6.54 per resident; similar councils £7.91 · down 7.1% on 2024-25
- NHS health checks and health protection
£1.04

**
4.8% of this · £4.8m in 2025-26 · £3.68 per resident; similar councils £2.55 · up 26.3% on 2024-25
- Stop smoking and tobacco control
£0.92

**
4.3% of this · £4.3m in 2025-26 · £3.26 per resident; similar councils £2.31 · up 14.2% on 2024-25
- Public mental health
£0.61

**
2.8% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £2.17 per resident; similar councils £0.80 · up 12.8% on 2024-25
- Obesity and physical activity
£0.34

**
1.6% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £1.21 per resident; similar councils £1.78 · down 23.0% on 2024-25











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





### Planning and development



£18.06 of your bill goes to planning and development at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £15.3m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Economic development and business support
£17.16

**
95.0% of this · £15.7m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £2.89 · up 104.6% on 2024-25
- Environmental initiatives
£0.89

**
4.9% of this · £815k in 2025-26 · £0.62 per resident; similar councils £0.92 · down 30.3% on 2024-25
- Planning policy
£0.01

**
under 0.1% of this · £11k in 2025-26 · £0.01 per resident; similar councils £0.61 · down 8.3% on 2024-25











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





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



£34.72 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 Lancashire County Council's adult social care spending of
£617.1m 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.


- [Physical support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.physical)
£11.34

**
32.6% of this precept · £201.5m in 2025-26 · £154 per resident; similar councils £149 · up 12.9% on 2024-25
- [Learning disability support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability)
£10.05

**
28.9% of this precept · £178.6m in 2025-26 · £136 per resident; similar councils £147 · up 0.2% on 2024-25
- [Support with memory and cognition](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory)
£3.52

**
10.1% of this precept · £62.6m in 2025-26 · £48 per resident; similar councils £27 · down 16.9% on 2024-25
- Commissioning, strategy and administration
£3.24

**
9.3% of this precept · £57.6m in 2025-26 · £44 per resident; similar councils £30 · up 7.1% on 2024-25
- Care assessment and safeguarding
£2.88

**
8.3% of this precept · £51.2m in 2025-26 · £39 per resident; similar councils £38 · up 13.0% on 2024-25
- [Mental health support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health)
£2.44

**
7.0% of this precept · £43.3m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £30 · down 2.6% on 2024-25
- Assistive equipment and technology
£0.45

**
1.3% of this precept · £8.0m in 2025-26 · £6.12 per resident; similar councils £4.54
- Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum)
£0.43

**
1.2% of this precept · £7.6m in 2025-26 · £5.80 per resident; similar councils £6.28 · up 53.0% on 2024-25
- [Sensory support](#d-county-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory)
£0.19

**
0.5% of this precept · £3.4m in 2025-26 · £2.58 per resident; similar councils £3.62 · up 13.6% on 2024-25
- Information and early intervention
£0.19

**
0.5% of this precept · £3.3m in 2025-26 · £2.54 per resident; similar councils £1.87 · up 80.7% on 2024-25





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





### Physical support



£11.34 of your bill goes to physical support at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £201.5m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 65 and over
£7.97

**
70.3% of this · £141.6m in 2025-26 · £108 per resident; similar councils £109 · up 11.9% on 2024-25
- Aged 18 to 64
£3.37

**
29.7% of this · £59.9m in 2025-26 · £46 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 15.3% on 2024-25











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





### Learning disability support



£10.05 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £178.6m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 18 to 64
£8.85

**
88.1% of this · £157.4m in 2025-26 · £120 per resident; similar councils £127 · up 0.5% on 2024-25
- Aged 65 and over
£1.19

**
11.9% of this · £21.2m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £17 · down 2.0% on 2024-25











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



£3.52 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £62.6m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 65 and over
£3.32

**
94.2% of this · £59.0m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident; similar councils £25 · down 15.6% on 2024-25
- Aged 18 to 64
£0.20

**
5.8% of this · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £2.78 per resident; similar councils £1.99 · down 33.4% on 2024-25











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





### Mental health support



£2.44 of your bill goes to mental health support at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £43.3m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 18 to 64
£1.53

**
62.7% of this · £27.1m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £20 · up 8.2% on 2024-25
- Aged 65 and over
£0.91

**
37.3% of this · £16.2m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £11 · down 16.6% on 2024-25











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





### Sensory support



£0.19 of your bill goes to sensory support at Lancashire County Council. Here is how its £3.4m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Aged 65 and over
£0.10

**
52.9% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £1.36 per resident; similar councils £1.64 · up 25.3% on 2024-25
- Aged 18 to 64
£0.09

**
47.1% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £1.21 per resident; similar councils £1.63 · up 2.8% on 2024-25











- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable





### Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable



£292.40 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 Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of
£422.3m 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)
- Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority





### Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority



£94.73 of your bill goes to Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how
Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return.


- [Fire and rescue](#d-fire~fire)
£93.17

**
98.4% of this part · £79.2m in 2025-26 · £49 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 7.6% on 2024-25
- Running the council
£1.56

**
1.6% of this part · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £0.82 per resident; similar councils £0.52 · up 5.6% on 2024-25









**Which councils count as similar**



Medians are across the 10 fire and rescue authorities closest in population: Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority, South Wales Fire Authority, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Essex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Kent Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority, Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Nottinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates.






- [Your bill](#d-bill)
- [Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire)
- Fire and rescue





### Fire and rescue



£93.17 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £79.2m of net spending on it divides in the return.


- Firefighting and rescue
£79.55

**
85.4% of this · £67.6m in 2025-26 · £42 per resident; similar councils £41 · up 5.1% on 2024-25
- Community fire safety
£8.99

**
9.6% of this · £7.6m in 2025-26 · £4.73 per resident; similar councils £5.15 · up 23.9% on 2024-25
- Fire emergency planning
£4.64

**
5.0% of this · £3.9m in 2025-26 · £2.44 per resident; similar councils £0.15 · up 26.2% on 2024-25




















## Parks, street cleaning and roads here



What Preston and Lancashire 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 | £2.8m | £17 | £14 | — | down 1.7% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£17Similar councils, per resident£14Per mile of road—Changedown 1.7% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Street cleaningDetails | £2.5m | £15 | £14 | — | up 8.1% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£15Similar councils, per resident£14Per mile of road—Changeup 8.1% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £208k | £1.26 | £0.42 | — | up 61.2% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£1.26Similar councils, per resident£0.42Per mile of road—Changeup 61.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £208k | £1.26 | £0.42 | — | up 61.2% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£1.26Similar councils, per resident£0.42Per mile of road—Changeup 61.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Street lighting (including energy)Details | £82k | £0.50 | £0.13 | — | up 13.9% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£0.50Similar councils, per resident£0.13Per mile of road—Changeup 13.9% 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 | £4.4m | £3.34 | £2.67 | — | up 32.5% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£3.34Similar councils, per resident£2.67Per mile of road—Changeup 32.5% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £17.3m | £13 | £26 | £4,001 (similar: £7,207) | up 13.0% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£13Similar councils, per resident£26Per mile of road£4,001 (similar: £7,207)Changeup 13.0% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £13.8m | £11 | £23 | £3,188 (similar: £5,551) | up 23.1% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£11Similar councils, per resident£23Per mile of road£3,188 (similar: £5,551)Changeup 23.1% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £3.5m | £2.69 | £2.56 | £814 (similar: £739) | down 14.5% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£2.69Similar councils, per resident£2.56Per mile of road£814 (similar: £739)Changedown 14.5% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Winter service (gritting)Details | £4.1m | £3.16 | £2.65 | £953 (similar: £781) | down 19.3% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£3.16Similar councils, per resident£2.65Per mile of road£953 (similar: £781)Changedown 19.3% on 2024-25 | | | | | |
| Street lighting (including energy)Details | £6.2m | £4.73 | £8.04 | £1,428 (similar: £1,892) | down 27.3% on 2024-25 |
| Per resident£4.73Similar councils, per resident£8.04Per mile of road£1,428 (similar: £1,892)Changedown 27.3% 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Environment and regulationDetails | £56 | £56 |
| Median£56 | | |
| Planning and developmentDetails | £53 | £22 |
| Median£22 | | |
| Running the councilDetails | £52 | £41 |
| Median£41 | | |
| Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £32 | £23 |
| Median£23 | | |
| Housing (not council homes)Details | £29 | £24 |
| Median£24 | | |
| Public healthDetails | £3.93 | £0.47 |
| Median£0.47 | | |
| Roads and transportDetails | £2.44 | £-4.53 |
| Median£-4.53 | | |
| Other servicesDetails | £0.78 | £2.66 |
| Median£2.66 | | |





- Preston spent **42.3%** 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 | £1,073 | £714 |
| Median£714 | | |
| Adult social careDetails | £472 | £447 |
| Median£447 | | |
| Children's social careDetails | £240 | £241 |
| Median£241 | | |
| Public healthDetails | £76 | £52 |
| Median£52 | | |
| Environment and regulationDetails | £76 | £57 |
| Median£57 | | |
| Roads and transportDetails | £59 | £68 |
| Median£68 | | |
| Running the councilDetails | £31 | £21 |
| Median£21 | | |
| Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £19 | £16 |
| Median£16 | | |
| Planning and developmentDetails | £12 | £4.63 |
| Median£4.63 | | |





- Lancashire County Council spent **40.1%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for county councils: 28.1%); 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 Preston](/council-tax/england/preston/) and [everything else about Preston](/your-area/preston/).





## Common questions


What does council tax pay for in Preston?
A Band D bill of £2,575.74 is split between Preston, Lancashire County Council, Lancashire County Council: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Parish and town councils (average for the area). In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £730.41.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 Preston](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/preston/)
- [Back to Preston: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/preston/)
- [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.