# Where your council tax goes in Sefton url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/sefton/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 Sefton Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Sefton** is **£2,583.22** for 2026-27, split between Sefton £2,104.64, Sefton: adult social care precept, this year's increase £40.87, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £293.97, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority £101.25, The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority £24.00, Parish and town councils (average for the area) £18.49. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Sefton: **£700.65** of the bill. Council tax pays for 20% of the council's own spending; the rest is government grant, business rates and fees. Figures for the 2026–27 financial year. Source: [Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/council-tax-statistics). ## Key figures - £2,583.22Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £2,104.64Goes to Sefton itself (81%) As of 6 April 2026 - £700.65Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 19.9%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. 2104.64 40.87 293.97 101.25 24.00 18.49 Sefton 81%Sefton: adult social care precept, this year's increase 2%Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 11%Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority 4%The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority 1%Parish and town councils (average for the area) 1% Parish precepts differ from parish to parish; this is the average across the area, and a home outside any parish pays none. ## And where does that bit go? Choose any part of the bill to see how it divides, then keep going as far as the published returns allow. Every level has its own link you can share. ### Where the rest comes from **Council tax pays for 19.9%** of the money Sefton had to spend in 2025-26. ********** - Council tax 19.9% £178.5m - Business rates 13.9% £124.7m - Government grants for specific services 41.2% £369.8m - Fees, charges and other income 22.1% £198.3m - Taken from reserves 3.0% £27.1m 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: £2,583.22 - [Sefton](#d-council) £2,104.64 ** Your council · 81.5% of the bill - [Sefton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) £40.87 ** Adult social care precept · 1.6% of the bill - [Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £293.97 ** Police · 11.4% of the bill - [Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) £101.25 ** Fire and rescue · 3.9% of the bill - [The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority](#d-combined) £24.00 ** Combined authority (mayor) · 0.9% of the bill - Parish and town councils (average for the area) £18.49 ** Parish or town council · 0.7% 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) - Sefton ### Sefton £2,104.64 of your bill goes to Sefton. It is shared out below in proportion to how Sefton spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £700.65 ** 33.3% of this part · £139.8m in 2025-26 · £486 per resident; similar councils £496 · up 5.8% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £581.48 ** 27.6% of this part · £116.0m in 2025-26 · £403 per resident; similar councils £329 · up 8.6% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-council~education) £385.09 ** 18.3% of this part · £263.2m in 2025-26 · £915 per resident; similar councils £704 · up 5.4% on 2024-25 - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £106.52 ** 5.1% of this part · £21.3m in 2025-26 · £74 per resident; similar councils £102 · up 6.1% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £88.74 ** 4.2% of this part · £17.7m in 2025-26 · £62 per resident; similar councils £69 · down 26.8% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £64.98 ** 3.1% of this part · £13.0m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident; similar councils £33 · up 48.6% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £62.51 ** 3.0% of this part · £12.5m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £50 · down 12.8% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £57.74 ** 2.7% of this part · £11.5m in 2025-26 · £40 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 11.1% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £35.65 ** 1.7% of this part · £7.1m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £29 · up 8.4% on 2024-25 - [Public health](#d-council~public-health) £19.31 ** 0.9% of this part · £29.5m in 2025-26 · £103 per resident; similar councils £85 · up 7.1% on 2024-25 - Other services £1.97 ** under 0.1% of this part · £394k in 2025-26 · £1.37 per resident; similar councils £0.21 · down 2.2% on 2024-25 Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£186.4m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£25.6m) is taken off, because council tax does not pay for it. **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 metropolitan borough councils closest in population: Sunderland, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Rotherham, Salford, Stockport, Bolton, Newcastle, Doncaster, Barnsley. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £700.65 of your bill goes to adult social care at Sefton. Here is how its £139.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Physical support](#d-council~adult-social-care.physical) £244.23 ** 34.9% of this · £48.7m in 2025-26 · £169 per resident; similar councils £152 · down 1.4% on 2024-25 - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £194.58 ** 27.8% of this · £38.8m in 2025-26 · £135 per resident; similar councils £153 · up 10.3% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £77.50 ** 11.1% of this · £15.5m in 2025-26 · £54 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 8.9% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £72.24 ** 10.3% of this · £14.4m in 2025-26 · £50 per resident; similar councils £44 · up 11.8% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £43.60 ** 6.2% of this · £8.7m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 2.3% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-council~adult-social-care.memory) £43.09 ** 6.2% of this · £8.6m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 9.1% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £14.46 ** 2.1% of this · £2.9m in 2025-26 · £10 per resident; similar councils £8.13 · up 42.3% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £4.43 ** 0.6% of this · £884k in 2025-26 · £3.07 per resident; similar councils £2.25 · up 58.4% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £4.39 ** 0.6% of this · £875k in 2025-26 · £3.04 per resident; similar councils £2.28 · down 16.4% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-council~adult-social-care.sensory) £2.13 ** 0.3% of this · £424k in 2025-26 · £1.47 per resident; similar councils £1.66 · down 0.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £244.23 of your bill goes to physical support at Sefton. Here is how its £48.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £195.22 ** 79.9% of this · £38.9m in 2025-26 · £135 per resident; similar councils £111 · up 4.4% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £49.01 ** 20.1% of this · £9.8m in 2025-26 · £34 per resident; similar councils £31 · down 19.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £194.58 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Sefton. Here is how its £38.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £167.01 ** 85.8% of this · £33.3m in 2025-26 · £116 per resident; similar councils £146 · up 10.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £27.57 ** 14.2% of this · £5.5m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 10.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £72.24 of your bill goes to mental health support at Sefton. Here is how its £14.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £40.94 ** 56.7% of this · £8.2m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £31 · up 22.1% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £31.30 ** 43.3% of this · £6.2m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 0.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £43.09 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Sefton. Here is how its £8.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £40.31 ** 93.5% of this · £8.0m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 15.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £2.79 ** 6.5% of this · £556k in 2025-26 · £1.93 per resident; similar councils £2.53 · down 41.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £2.13 of your bill goes to sensory support at Sefton. Here is how its £424k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £1.74 ** 81.8% of this · £347k in 2025-26 · £1.21 per resident; similar councils £1.06 · up 1.8% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.39 ** 18.2% of this · £77k in 2025-26 · £0.27 per resident; similar councils £0.84 · down 11.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £581.48 of your bill goes to children's social care at Sefton. Here is how its £116.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £335.18 ** 57.6% of this · £66.9m in 2025-26 · £233 per resident; similar councils £182 · up 12.1% on 2024-25 - Family support £116.81 ** 20.1% of this · £23.3m in 2025-26 · £81 per resident; similar councils £36 · up 6.6% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £98.74 ** 17.0% of this · £19.7m in 2025-26 · £69 per resident; similar councils £75 · up 11.4% on 2024-25 - Asylum-seeking children £21.51 ** 3.7% of this · £4.3m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 5.6% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £5.41 ** 0.9% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £3.75 per resident; similar councils £6.34 · up 0.1% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £2.71 ** 0.5% of this · £540k in 2025-26 · £1.88 per resident; similar councils £7.33 · down 50.4% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £0.77 ** 0.1% of this · £154k in 2025-26 · £0.54 per resident; similar councils £2.73 · down 48.5% on 2024-25 - Children's centres and early years £0.35 ** under 0.1% of this · £69k in 2025-26 · £0.24 per resident; similar councils £8.88 · down 93.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - Education ### Education £385.09 of your bill goes to education at Sefton. Here is how its £263.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Primary schools £169.92 ** 44.1% of this · £116.1m in 2025-26 · £404 per resident; similar councils £240 · down 6.3% on 2024-25 - Special schools and alternative provision £71.73 ** 18.6% of this · £49.0m in 2025-26 · £170 per resident; similar councils £129 · up 7.8% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £56.15 ** 14.6% of this · £38.4m in 2025-26 · £133 per resident; similar councils £150 · up 53.6% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £45.70 ** 11.9% of this · £31.2m in 2025-26 · £109 per resident; similar councils £64 · up 8.5% on 2024-25 - Other education £34.11 ** 8.9% of this · £23.3m in 2025-26 · £81 per resident; similar councils £74 · up 6.7% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £7.48 ** 1.9% of this · £5.1m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 11.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £106.52 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Sefton. Here is how its £21.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Waste collection £45.99 ** 43.2% of this · £9.6m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £21 · up 21.3% on 2024-25 - Street cleaning £26.11 ** 24.5% of this · £5.4m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 7.0% on 2024-25 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £11.28 ** 10.6% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £8.16 per resident; similar councils £6.09 · down 28.4% on 2024-25 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £10.34 ** 9.7% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £7.48 per resident; similar councils £0.10 · up 2.3% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £8.42 ** 7.9% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £6.10 per resident; similar councils £6.47 · down 1.7% on 2024-25 - Trading standards £1.95 ** 1.8% of this · £406k in 2025-26 · £1.41 per resident; similar councils £0.97 · up 8.8% on 2024-25 - Recycling and waste minimisation £1.89 ** 1.8% of this · £394k in 2025-26 · £1.37 per resident; similar councils £15 · down 4.8% on 2024-25 - Public toilets £0.53 ** 0.5% of this · £111k in 2025-26 · £0.39 per resident; similar councils £0.04 · down 28.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £88.74 of your bill goes to running the council at Sefton. Here is how its £17.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £41.72 ** 47.0% of this · £8.5m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £20 · up 9.9% on 2024-25 - Local welfare assistance £23.17 ** 26.1% of this · £4.7m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £17 · down 13.5% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £9.59 ** 10.8% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £6.82 per resident; similar councils £7.93 · up 3.6% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £7.85 ** 8.8% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £5.58 per resident; similar councils £7.82 · down 25.6% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £3.38 ** 3.8% of this · £691k in 2025-26 · £2.40 per resident; similar councils £2.25 · down 56.9% on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £3.01 ** 3.4% of this · £616k in 2025-26 · £2.14 per resident; similar councils £3.34 · down 1.0% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £0.00 ** under 0.1% of this · £1k in 2025-26 · £0.00 per resident; similar councils £0.76 · no change on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £64.98 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Sefton. Here is how its £13.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £41.91 ** 64.5% of this · £8.7m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 108.7% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £14.07 ** 21.7% of this · £2.9m in 2025-26 · £10 per resident; similar councils £5.18 · no change on 2024-25 - Private sector housing renewal £3.93 ** 6.1% of this · £818k in 2025-26 · £2.84 per resident; similar councils £0.14 · up 0.5% on 2024-25 - Supporting People and welfare services £2.78 ** 4.3% of this · £578k in 2025-26 · £2.01 per resident; similar councils £4.67 · down 9.3% on 2024-25 - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £2.28 ** 3.5% of this · £475k in 2025-26 · £1.65 per resident; similar councils £0.55 · down 23.1% 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. Sefton 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) - [Sefton](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £62.51 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Sefton. Here is how its £12.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Sport and leisure £18.19 ** 29.1% of this · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £7.09 · down 9.1% on 2024-25 - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £16.03 ** 25.6% of this · £3.2m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £9.69 · down 14.1% on 2024-25 - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £15.01 ** 24.0% of this · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £10 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 1.4% on 2024-25 - Libraries £8.68 ** 13.9% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £6.02 per resident; similar councils £13 · down 18.2% on 2024-25 - Tourism £3.35 ** 5.4% of this · £669k in 2025-26 · £2.33 per resident; similar councils £0.01 · down 41.9% on 2024-25 - Other culture and leisure £0.81 ** 1.3% of this · £161k in 2025-26 · £0.56 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 17.9% on 2024-25 - Community centres and public halls £0.44 ** 0.7% of this · £88k in 2025-26 · £0.31 per resident; similar councils £0.45 · up 4.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £57.74 of your bill goes to planning and development at Sefton. Here is how its £11.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Economic development and business support £33.97 ** 58.8% of this · £6.8m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 38.7% on 2024-25 - Community development £12.86 ** 22.3% of this · £2.6m in 2025-26 · £8.92 per resident; similar councils £6.96 · down 22.4% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £3.77 ** 6.5% of this · £752k in 2025-26 · £2.61 per resident; similar councils £2.85 · up 7.9% on 2024-25 - Planning applications (development management) £3.62 ** 6.3% of this · £723k in 2025-26 · £2.51 per resident; similar councils £1.04 · down 15.1% on 2024-25 - Building control £2.87 ** 5.0% of this · £573k in 2025-26 · £1.99 per resident; similar councils £0.68 · up 23.2% on 2024-25 - Environmental initiatives £0.64 ** 1.1% of this · £128k in 2025-26 · £0.45 per resident; similar councils £0.04 · down 21.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £35.65 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Sefton. Here is how its £7.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-council~highways-transport.maintenance) £14.28 ** 40.1% of this · £3.9m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 14.0% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £10.63 ** 29.8% of this · £2.9m in 2025-26 · £10 per resident; similar councils £9.30 · down 11.3% on 2024-25 - Traffic management and road safety £5.72 ** 16.0% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £5.43 per resident; similar councils £1.75 · up 15.3% on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £5.03 ** 14.1% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £4.78 per resident; similar councils £2.45 · down 19.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) - Road and bridge maintenance ### Road and bridge maintenance £14.28 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at Sefton. Here is how its £3.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Environmental, safety and routine maintenance £12.57 ** 88.0% of this · £3.4m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £5.82 · up 4.4% on 2024-25 - Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges) £1.71 ** 12.0% of this · £468k in 2025-26 · £1.63 per resident; similar councils £4.79 · up 246.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton](#d-council) - Public health ### Public health £19.31 of your bill goes to public health at Sefton. Here is how its £29.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Drug and alcohol services £5.54 ** 28.7% of this · £8.5m in 2025-26 · £29 per resident; similar councils £24 · down 3.4% on 2024-25 - Health visiting and children's 0-5 services £4.49 ** 23.2% of this · £6.9m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 22.6% on 2024-25 - Children's 5-19 programmes £2.19 ** 11.3% of this · £3.3m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £7.15 · up 1.0% on 2024-25 - Obesity and physical activity £2.15 ** 11.1% of this · £3.3m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £5.24 · up 14.4% on 2024-25 - Sexual health £2.00 ** 10.4% of this · £3.1m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £9.45 · down 8.1% on 2024-25 - Stop smoking and tobacco control £1.09 ** 5.7% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £5.81 per resident; similar councils £3.07 · up 30.3% on 2024-25 - Public mental health £0.75 ** 3.9% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £4.00 per resident; similar councils £1.59 · up 59.7% on 2024-25 - NHS health checks and health protection £0.58 ** 3.0% of this · £881k in 2025-26 · £3.06 per resident; similar councils £4.18 · up 7.2% on 2024-25 - Other public health £0.52 ** 2.7% of this · £791k in 2025-26 · £2.75 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 6.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Sefton: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Sefton: adult social care precept, this year's increase £40.87 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 Sefton's adult social care spending of £139.8m divided in 2025-26. MHCLG publishes only this year's increase; the running total since 2016-17 printed on your bill is in the council part above. - [Physical support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.physical) £14.25 ** 34.9% of this precept · £48.7m in 2025-26 · £169 per resident; similar councils £152 · down 1.4% on 2024-25 - [Learning disability support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £11.35 ** 27.8% of this precept · £38.8m in 2025-26 · £135 per resident; similar councils £153 · up 10.3% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £4.52 ** 11.1% of this precept · £15.5m in 2025-26 · £54 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 8.9% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £4.21 ** 10.3% of this precept · £14.4m in 2025-26 · £50 per resident; similar councils £44 · up 11.8% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £2.54 ** 6.2% of this precept · £8.7m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 2.3% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £2.51 ** 6.2% of this precept · £8.6m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 9.1% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £0.84 ** 2.1% of this precept · £2.9m in 2025-26 · £10 per resident; similar councils £8.13 · up 42.3% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.26 ** 0.6% of this precept · £884k in 2025-26 · £3.07 per resident; similar councils £2.25 · up 58.4% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.26 ** 0.6% of this precept · £875k in 2025-26 · £3.04 per resident; similar councils £2.28 · down 16.4% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.12 ** 0.3% of this precept · £424k in 2025-26 · £1.47 per resident; similar councils £1.66 · down 0.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £14.25 of your bill goes to physical support at Sefton. Here is how its £48.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £11.39 ** 79.9% of this · £38.9m in 2025-26 · £135 per resident; similar councils £111 · up 4.4% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £2.86 ** 20.1% of this · £9.8m in 2025-26 · £34 per resident; similar councils £31 · down 19.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £11.35 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Sefton. Here is how its £38.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £9.74 ** 85.8% of this · £33.3m in 2025-26 · £116 per resident; similar councils £146 · up 10.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.61 ** 14.2% of this · £5.5m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 10.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £4.21 of your bill goes to mental health support at Sefton. Here is how its £14.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £2.39 ** 56.7% of this · £8.2m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £31 · up 22.1% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.83 ** 43.3% of this · £6.2m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 0.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £2.51 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Sefton. Here is how its £8.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £2.35 ** 93.5% of this · £8.0m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 15.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.16 ** 6.5% of this · £556k in 2025-26 · £1.93 per resident; similar councils £2.53 · down 41.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Sefton: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.12 of your bill goes to sensory support at Sefton. Here is how its £424k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £0.10 ** 81.8% of this · £347k in 2025-26 · £1.21 per resident; similar councils £1.06 · up 1.8% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.02 ** 18.2% of this · £77k in 2025-26 · £0.27 per resident; similar councils £0.84 · down 11.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £293.97 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 Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £495.9m 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) - Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority ### Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority £101.25 of your bill goes to Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Fire and rescue](#d-fire~fire) £100.01 ** 98.8% of this part · £63.9m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 8.1% on 2024-25 - Running the council £1.24 ** 1.2% of this part · £793k in 2025-26 · £0.54 per resident; similar councils £0.86 · up 22.4% on 2024-25 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 fire and rescue authorities closest in population: South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, South Wales Fire Authority, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Nottinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Leicestershire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Fire and rescue ### Fire and rescue £100.01 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £63.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Firefighting and rescue £88.23 ** 88.2% of this · £56.4m in 2025-26 · £38 per resident; similar councils £42 · up 11.6% on 2024-25 - Community fire safety £11.78 ** 11.8% of this · £7.5m in 2025-26 · £5.09 per resident; similar councils £5.00 · down 12.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority ### The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority £24.00 of your bill goes to The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Roads and transport](#d-combined~highways-transport) £15.65 ** 65.2% of this part · £265.7m in 2025-26 · £165 per resident · up 14.5% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-combined~education) £4.36 ** 18.2% of this part · £74.0m in 2025-26 · £46 per resident · up 5.7% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-combined~planning-development) £3.25 ** 13.5% of this part · £55.1m in 2025-26 · £34 per resident · up 4.9% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-combined~central) £0.41 ** 1.7% of this part · £7.0m in 2025-26 · £4.36 per resident · down 38.7% on 2024-25 - Housing (not council homes) £0.29 ** 1.2% of this part · £4.9m in 2025-26 · £3.05 per resident · up 10.1% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-combined). - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-combined~culture-leisure) £0.05 ** 0.2% of this part · £803k in 2025-26 · £0.50 per resident · down 52.5% 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. The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority 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). No similar-council comparison: no comparison: no other body does the same mix of things. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority](#d-combined) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £15.65 of your bill goes to roads and transport at The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Here is how its £265.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Support for bus, rail and other public transport £12.61 ** 80.6% of this · £214.1m in 2025-26 · £133 per resident · up 20.5% on 2024-25 - Concessionary bus fares £2.19 ** 14.0% of this · £37.1m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident · down 18.1% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £0.85 ** 5.4% of this · £14.4m in 2025-26 · £8.95 per resident · up 58.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority](#d-combined) - Education ### Education £4.36 of your bill goes to education at The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Here is how its £74.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Other education £4.28 ** 98.3% of this · £72.7m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident · up 4.1% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £0.04 ** 0.8% of this · £613k in 2025-26 · £0.38 per resident · up 873.0% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £0.04 ** 0.8% of this · £610k in 2025-26 · £0.38 per resident · up 20233.3% on 2024-25 - Primary schools £0.00 ** under 0.1% of this · £14k in 2025-26 · £0.01 per resident · up 133.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority](#d-combined) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £3.25 of your bill goes to planning and development at The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Here is how its £55.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Economic development and business support £2.29 ** 70.5% of this · £38.8m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident · up 2.2% on 2024-25 - Environmental initiatives £0.48 ** 14.8% of this · £8.2m in 2025-26 · £5.06 per resident · down 15.3% on 2024-25 - Community development £0.44 ** 13.4% of this · £7.4m in 2025-26 · £4.59 per resident · up 100.5% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £0.04 ** 1.3% of this · £718k in 2025-26 · £0.45 per resident · down 41.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority](#d-combined) - Running the council ### Running the council £0.41 of your bill goes to running the council at The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Here is how its £7.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £0.36 ** 87.7% of this · £6.2m in 2025-26 · £3.83 per resident · down 34.7% on 2024-25 - Other central services £0.05 ** 12.3% of this · £868k in 2025-26 · £0.54 per resident - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority](#d-combined) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £0.05 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Here is how its £803k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £0.04 ** 90.7% of this · £728k in 2025-26 · £0.45 per resident · down 39.0% on 2024-25 - Tourism £0.00 ** 9.3% of this · £75k in 2025-26 · £0.05 per resident · down 84.8% on 2024-25 ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Sefton 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 | £3.0m | £10 | £14 | — | down 1.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£10Similar councils, per resident£14Per mile of road—Changedown 1.4% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £5.4m | £19 | £13 | £8,807 (similar: £6,517) | up 7.0% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£19Similar councils, per resident£13Per mile of road£8,807 (similar: £6,517)Changeup 7.0% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £3.9m | £14 | £12 | £6,326 (similar: £6,465) | up 14.0% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£14Similar councils, per resident£12Per mile of road£6,326 (similar: £6,465)Changeup 14.0% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £3.4m | £12 | £6.06 | £5,567 (similar: £2,913) | up 4.4% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£12Similar councils, per resident£6.06Per mile of road£5,567 (similar: £2,913)Changeup 4.4% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £468k | £1.63 | £4.79 | £759 (similar: £2,747) | up 246.7% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£1.63Similar councils, per resident£4.79Per mile of road£759 (similar: £2,747)Changeup 246.7% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £1.4m | £4.78 | £2.45 | £2,227 (similar: £1,231) | down 19.6% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£4.78Similar councils, per resident£2.45Per mile of road£2,227 (similar: £1,231)Changedown 19.6% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £2.9m | £10 | £9.30 | £4,707 (similar: £4,908) | down 11.3% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£10Similar councils, per resident£9.30Per mile of road£4,707 (similar: £4,908)Changedown 11.3% 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 | | --- | --- | --- | | EducationDetails | £915 | £869 | | Median£869 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £486 | £480 | | Median£480 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £403 | £337 | | Median£337 | | | | Public healthDetails | £103 | £88 | | Median£88 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £74 | £93 | | Median£93 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £62 | £59 | | Median£59 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £45 | £39 | | Median£39 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £43 | £50 | | Median£50 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £40 | £28 | | Median£28 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £25 | £29 | | Median£29 | | | | Other servicesDetails | £1.37 | £0.34 | | Median£0.34 | | | - Sefton spent **31.0%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for metropolitan borough councils: 34.4%); the rest went on suppliers, contractors, grants, benefits and other running costs. ## What this data does and doesn't show - These are each body's own figures, as reported to government in its revenue outturn return. Net spending is after the fees, charges and grants a service brings in. - Your bill is for 2026-27; it is shared out using the latest published return, which covers an earlier year. The mix of spending changes little from one year to the next, but it does change. - Council tax is not ring-fenced: this shows your bill in proportion to spending, not what your money bought. Where a precept is set aside for adult social care, it is shown against adult social care. - No council publishes spending at street or property level, so nothing here says what was spent near you. - Sub-service lines are the ones the national returns itemise. Councils describe their own budgets differently; their budget books and statements of accounts have more detail. ## Sources - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England: Table 10, local authority level data](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a02eeeccd2e0e8b5b20b449/Table_10_2026-27.ods), published 25 March 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: Revenue Outturn multi-year data set](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ab26ffffe72ed1e2b02ee74/Revenue_Outturn_time_series_data_v4.csv), published 28 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. How the split is worked out, and how the three nations' returns are matched to one list of services, is on the [methodology page](/methodology/#council-spending). The dataset is on the [data page](/data/#council-spending). See also [council tax in Sefton](/council-tax/england/sefton/) and [everything else about Sefton](/your-area/sefton/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Sefton? A Band D bill of £2,583.22 is split between Sefton, Sefton: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, Parish and town councils (average for the area). In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £700.65.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 Sefton](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/sefton/) - [Back to Sefton: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/sefton/) - [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.