# Where your council tax goes in Stoke-on-Trent url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/stoke-on-trent/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 Stoke-on-Trent Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Stoke-on-Trent** is **£2,183.12** for 2026-27, split between Stoke-on-Trent £1,749.80, Stoke-on-Trent: adult social care precept, this year's increase £33.98, Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £302.57, Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £96.77. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is children's social care at Stoke-on-Trent: **£611.13** of the bill. Council tax pays for 14% 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 - £2,183.12Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £1,749.80Goes to Stoke-on-Trent itself (80%) As of 6 April 2026 - £611.13Largest line: children's social care As of 28 September 2026 - 13.7%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. 1749.80 33.98 302.57 96.77 Stoke-on-Trent 80%Stoke-on-Trent: adult social care precept, this year's increase 2%Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 14%Staffordshire 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 13.7%** of the money Stoke-on-Trent had to spend in 2025-26. ********** - Council tax 13.7% £117.0m - Business rates 12.8% £109.6m - General government grant 3.5% £29.5m - Government grants for specific services 40.2% £342.7m - Fees, charges and other income 29.8% £254.2m It also put £123k 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: £2,183.12 - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) £1,749.80 ** Your council · 80.2% of the bill - [Stoke-on-Trent: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) £33.98 ** Adult social care precept · 1.6% of the bill - [Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £302.57 ** Police · 13.9% of the bill - [Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) £96.77 ** Fire and rescue · 4.4% of the bill - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Stoke-on-Trent ### Stoke-on-Trent £1,749.80 of your bill goes to Stoke-on-Trent. It is shared out below in proportion to how Stoke-on-Trent spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £611.13 ** 34.9% of this part · £140.9m in 2025-26 · £517 per resident; similar councils £340 · up 11.8% on 2024-25 - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £606.39 ** 34.7% of this part · £139.8m in 2025-26 · £513 per resident; similar councils £448 · up 40.8% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-council~education) £206.84 ** 11.8% of this part · £155.7m in 2025-26 · £572 per resident; similar councils £694 · up 14.4% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £90.48 ** 5.2% of this part · £20.9m in 2025-26 · £77 per resident; similar councils £38 · down 17.6% on 2024-25 - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £64.50 ** 3.7% of this part · £14.9m in 2025-26 · £55 per resident; similar councils £110 · down 44.3% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £51.75 ** 3.0% of this part · £11.9m in 2025-26 · £44 per resident; similar councils £51 · up 240.0% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £42.68 ** 2.4% of this part · £9.8m in 2025-26 · £36 per resident; similar councils £54 · down 14.2% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £36.91 ** 2.1% of this part · £8.5m in 2025-26 · £31 per resident; similar councils £47 · down 19.5% on 2024-25 - [Public health](#d-council~public-health) £21.27 ** 1.2% of this part · £31.6m in 2025-26 · £116 per resident; similar councils £73 · up 24.4% on 2024-25 - Other services £12.65 ** 0.7% of this part · £2.9m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 48.6% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £5.19 ** 0.3% of this part · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £4.39 per resident; similar councils £19 · down 87.8% on 2024-25 Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£108.0m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£26.7m) is taken off, because council tax does not pay for it. **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 unitary councils in England closest in population: Plymouth, Kingston-upon-Hull, Derby City, Cumberland, Brighton and Hove, Southampton, Medway Towns, Swindon, South Gloucestershire, Milton Keynes. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £611.13 of your bill goes to children's social care at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £140.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £434.78 ** 71.1% of this · £100.2m in 2025-26 · £368 per resident; similar councils £196 · up 15.9% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £114.40 ** 18.7% of this · £26.4m in 2025-26 · £97 per resident; similar councils £67 · down 10.2% on 2024-25 - Family support £43.28 ** 7.1% of this · £10.0m in 2025-26 · £37 per resident; similar councils £27 · up 26.3% on 2024-25 - Asylum-seeking children £5.65 ** 0.9% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £4.78 per resident; similar councils £3.78 · up 1012.8% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £3.77 ** 0.6% of this · £870k in 2025-26 · £3.20 per resident; similar councils £4.08 · up 4250.0% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £3.41 ** 0.6% of this · £785k in 2025-26 · £2.88 per resident; similar councils £4.34 · up 52.4% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £3.22 ** 0.5% of this · £743k in 2025-26 · £2.73 per resident; similar councils £4.73 · down 3.9% on 2024-25 - Children's centres and early years £2.62 ** 0.4% of this · £605k in 2025-26 · £2.22 per resident; similar councils £12 · down 28.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £606.39 of your bill goes to adult social care at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £139.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £210.10 ** 34.6% of this · £48.4m in 2025-26 · £178 per resident; similar councils £147 · up 21.2% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-council~adult-social-care.memory) £116.67 ** 19.2% of this · £26.9m in 2025-26 · £99 per resident; similar councils £23 · up 814.5% on 2024-25 - Physical support £107.05 ** 17.7% of this · £24.7m in 2025-26 · £91 per resident; similar councils £140 · up 46.4% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £80.79 ** 13.3% of this · £18.6m in 2025-26 · £68 per resident; similar councils £46 · up 14.9% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £52.99 ** 8.7% of this · £12.2m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident; similar councils £46 · up 22.7% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £28.45 ** 4.7% of this · £6.6m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 31.3% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £7.26 ** 1.2% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £6.14 per resident; similar councils £2.75 · down 39.6% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £1.10 ** 0.2% of this · £254k in 2025-26 · £0.93 per resident; similar councils £2.89 · down 53.2% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-council~adult-social-care.sensory) £1.00 ** 0.2% of this · £230k in 2025-26 · £0.84 per resident; similar councils £2.13 · down 66.1% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £0.98 ** 0.2% of this · £226k in 2025-26 · £0.83 per resident; similar councils £5.91 · down 94.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £210.10 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £48.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £172.58 ** 82.1% of this · £39.8m in 2025-26 · £146 per resident; similar councils £132 · up 24.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £37.51 ** 17.9% of this · £8.6m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 6.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £116.67 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £26.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £115.96 ** 99.4% of this · £26.7m in 2025-26 · £98 per resident; similar councils £1.90 - Aged 65 and over £0.71 ** 0.6% of this · £164k in 2025-26 · £0.60 per resident; similar councils £21 · down 96.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £80.79 of your bill goes to mental health support at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £18.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £48.23 ** 59.7% of this · £11.1m in 2025-26 · £41 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 8.4% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £32.56 ** 40.3% of this · £7.5m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 26.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £1.00 of your bill goes to sensory support at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £230k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £0.72 ** 71.7% of this · £165k in 2025-26 · £0.61 per resident; similar councils £0.76 · down 65.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.28 ** 28.3% of this · £65k in 2025-26 · £0.24 per resident; similar councils £0.83 · down 68.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - Education ### Education £206.84 of your bill goes to education at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £155.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Special schools and alternative provision £73.76 ** 35.7% of this · £55.5m in 2025-26 · £204 per resident; similar councils £137 · up 183.6% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £52.60 ** 25.4% of this · £39.6m in 2025-26 · £145 per resident; similar councils £148 · up 234.5% on 2024-25 - Primary schools £32.59 ** 15.8% of this · £24.5m in 2025-26 · £90 per resident; similar councils £251 · down 46.9% on 2024-25 - Other education £28.96 ** 14.0% of this · £21.8m in 2025-26 · £80 per resident; similar councils £63 · up 20.0% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £11.90 ** 5.8% of this · £9.0m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £13 · up 186.1% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £7.03 ** 3.4% of this · £5.3m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £75 · down 85.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £90.48 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £20.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Support for bus, rail and other public transport £38.95 ** 43.0% of this · £9.0m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £8.44 · up 25.2% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £27.97 ** 30.9% of this · £6.4m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £9.17 · down 34.6% on 2024-25 - Concessionary bus fares £10.51 ** 11.6% of this · £2.4m in 2025-26 · £8.90 per resident; similar councils £15 · down 0.5% on 2024-25 - [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-council~highways-transport.maintenance) £5.05 ** 5.6% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £4.28 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 56.7% on 2024-25 - Traffic management and road safety £5.02 ** 5.6% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £4.25 per resident; similar councils £0.90 · up 148.0% on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £2.29 ** 2.5% of this · £529k in 2025-26 · £1.94 per resident; similar councils £1.62 · down 41.3% on 2024-25 - Parking £0.49 ** 0.5% of this · £114k in 2025-26 · £0.42 per resident; similar councils £-17 · down 5.0% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £0.18 ** 0.2% of this · £42k in 2025-26 · £0.15 per resident; similar councils £6.73 · down 97.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) - Road and bridge maintenance ### Road and bridge maintenance £5.05 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £1.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Environmental, safety and routine maintenance £4.59 ** 90.8% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £3.89 per resident; similar councils £8.56 · down 38.7% on 2024-25 - Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges) £0.46 ** 9.2% of this · £107k in 2025-26 · £0.39 per resident; similar councils £3.11 · down 88.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £64.50 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £14.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Street cleaning £18.76 ** 29.1% of this · £4.7m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £12 · down 26.1% on 2024-25 - Waste collection £15.48 ** 24.0% of this · £3.9m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £28 · down 36.8% on 2024-25 - Recycling and waste minimisation £15.14 ** 23.5% of this · £3.8m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 18.2% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £6.30 ** 9.8% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £5.78 per resident; similar councils £4.25 · down 50.6% on 2024-25 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £4.78 ** 7.4% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £4.39 per resident; similar councils £5.50 · down 39.8% on 2024-25 - Other environmental services £1.69 ** 2.6% of this · £423k in 2025-26 · £1.55 per resident; similar councils £0.50 - Trading standards £1.54 ** 2.4% of this · £385k in 2025-26 · £1.41 per resident; similar councils £1.83 · down 36.3% on 2024-25 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £0.41 ** 0.6% of this · £103k in 2025-26 · £0.38 per resident; similar councils £1.01 · up 221.9% on 2024-25 - Waste disposal £0.22 ** 0.3% of this · £56k in 2025-26 · £0.21 per resident; similar councils £36 · down 99.0% on 2024-25 - Public toilets £0.18 ** 0.3% of this · £45k in 2025-26 · £0.17 per resident; similar councils £0.08 · up 66.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £51.75 of your bill goes to running the council at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £11.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £20.84 ** 40.3% of this · £4.8m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £21 · up 160000.0% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £15.60 ** 30.1% of this · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £3.37 · down 13.9% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £6.91 ** 13.3% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £5.85 per resident; similar councils £8.61 · down 4.4% on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £3.80 ** 7.3% of this · £876k in 2025-26 · £3.22 per resident; similar councils £2.82 · up 28.4% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £2.20 ** 4.3% of this · £508k in 2025-26 · £1.87 per resident; similar councils £1.94 · down 6.8% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £1.00 ** 1.9% of this · £231k in 2025-26 · £0.85 per resident; similar councils £0.65 · up 28.3% on 2024-25 - Other central services £0.76 ** 1.5% of this · £175k in 2025-26 · £0.64 per resident; similar councils £-0.38 - Registering births, deaths and marriages £0.41 ** 0.8% of this · £95k in 2025-26 · £0.35 per resident; similar councils £-0.24 - Local welfare assistance £0.23 ** 0.5% of this · £54k in 2025-26 · £0.20 per resident; similar councils £0.03 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £42.68 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £9.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £25.22 ** 59.1% of this · £5.8m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 40.0% on 2024-25 - Supporting People and welfare services £6.10 ** 14.3% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £5.16 per resident; similar councils £3.76 · down 35.4% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £5.00 ** 11.7% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £4.23 per resident; similar councils £5.72 · up 16.5% on 2024-25 - Private sector housing renewal £4.88 ** 11.4% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £4.13 per resident; similar councils £0.92 · down 71.3% on 2024-25 - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £1.49 ** 3.5% of this · £344k in 2025-26 · £1.26 per resident; similar councils £0.94 · up 47.6% 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. Stoke-on-Trent's Housing Revenue Account took in £83.9m and spent £83.7m in 2025-26. [What council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#ring-fence). - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £36.91 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £8.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £13.37 ** 36.2% of this · £3.1m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 7.1% on 2024-25 - Libraries £8.00 ** 21.7% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £6.77 per resident; similar councils £15 · down 4.1% on 2024-25 - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £6.12 ** 16.6% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £5.18 per resident; similar councils £18 · down 39.6% on 2024-25 - Sport and leisure £4.88 ** 13.2% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £4.13 per resident; similar councils £1.37 · down 58.4% on 2024-25 - Community centres and public halls £4.13 ** 11.2% of this · £953k in 2025-26 · £3.50 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 75.8% on 2024-25 - Tourism £0.42 ** 1.1% of this · £96k in 2025-26 · £0.35 per resident; similar councils £0.54 · down 49.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - Public health ### Public health £21.27 of your bill goes to public health at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £31.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Drug and alcohol services £5.93 ** 27.9% of this · £8.8m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 80.9% on 2024-25 - Other public health £4.98 ** 23.4% of this · £7.4m in 2025-26 · £27 per resident; similar councils £7.19 · up 20.6% on 2024-25 - Health visiting and children's 0-5 services £2.85 ** 13.4% of this · £4.2m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 2.3% on 2024-25 - Obesity and physical activity £2.42 ** 11.4% of this · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £3.16 · up 3.2% on 2024-25 - Sexual health £2.17 ** 10.2% of this · £3.2m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 11.1% on 2024-25 - Public mental health £1.13 ** 5.3% of this · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £6.15 per resident; similar councils £1.35 · up 23.5% on 2024-25 - Stop smoking and tobacco control £0.67 ** 3.1% of this · £993k in 2025-26 · £3.65 per resident; similar councils £2.69 · up 98.2% on 2024-25 - Children's 5-19 programmes £0.60 ** 2.8% of this · £896k in 2025-26 · £3.29 per resident; similar councils £7.36 · down 8.5% on 2024-25 - NHS health checks and health protection £0.52 ** 2.4% of this · £768k in 2025-26 · £2.82 per resident; similar councils £3.33 · down 24.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £5.19 of your bill goes to planning and development at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £1.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Planning applications (development management) £2.33 ** 44.9% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £4.88 per resident; similar councils £2.66 · up 173.7% on 2024-25 - Building control £1.09 ** 21.0% of this · £622k in 2025-26 · £2.28 per resident; similar councils £0.76 · up 255.4% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £0.88 ** 17.0% of this · £503k in 2025-26 · £1.85 per resident; similar councils £4.18 · down 40.5% on 2024-25 - Environmental initiatives £0.50 ** 9.7% of this · £286k in 2025-26 · £1.05 per resident; similar councils £0.67 · up 116.7% on 2024-25 - Economic development and business support £0.39 ** 7.5% of this · £222k in 2025-26 · £0.82 per resident; similar councils £5.20 · down 97.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Stoke-on-Trent: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Stoke-on-Trent: adult social care precept, this year's increase £33.98 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 Stoke-on-Trent'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. - [Learning disability support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £11.77 ** 34.6% of this precept · £48.4m in 2025-26 · £178 per resident; similar councils £147 · up 21.2% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £6.54 ** 19.2% of this precept · £26.9m in 2025-26 · £99 per resident; similar councils £23 · up 814.5% on 2024-25 - Physical support £6.00 ** 17.7% of this precept · £24.7m in 2025-26 · £91 per resident; similar councils £140 · up 46.4% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £4.53 ** 13.3% of this precept · £18.6m in 2025-26 · £68 per resident; similar councils £46 · up 14.9% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £2.97 ** 8.7% of this precept · £12.2m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident; similar councils £46 · up 22.7% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £1.59 ** 4.7% of this precept · £6.6m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 31.3% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.41 ** 1.2% of this precept · £1.7m in 2025-26 · £6.14 per resident; similar councils £2.75 · down 39.6% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.06 ** 0.2% of this precept · £254k in 2025-26 · £0.93 per resident; similar councils £2.89 · down 53.2% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.06 ** 0.2% of this precept · £230k in 2025-26 · £0.84 per resident; similar councils £2.13 · down 66.1% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £0.05 ** 0.2% of this precept · £226k in 2025-26 · £0.83 per resident; similar councils £5.91 · down 94.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £11.77 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £48.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £9.67 ** 82.1% of this · £39.8m in 2025-26 · £146 per resident; similar councils £132 · up 24.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £2.10 ** 17.9% of this · £8.6m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 6.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £6.54 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £26.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £6.50 ** 99.4% of this · £26.7m in 2025-26 · £98 per resident; similar councils £1.90 - Aged 65 and over £0.04 ** 0.6% of this · £164k in 2025-26 · £0.60 per resident; similar councils £21 · down 96.8% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £4.53 of your bill goes to mental health support at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £18.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £2.70 ** 59.7% of this · £11.1m in 2025-26 · £41 per resident; similar councils £35 · up 8.4% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.82 ** 40.3% of this · £7.5m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 26.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Stoke-on-Trent: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.06 of your bill goes to sensory support at Stoke-on-Trent. Here is how its £230k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £0.04 ** 71.7% of this · £165k in 2025-26 · £0.61 per resident; similar councils £0.76 · down 65.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.02 ** 28.3% of this · £65k in 2025-26 · £0.24 per resident; similar councils £0.83 · down 68.3% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £302.57 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 Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £278.9m 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) - Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority ### Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £96.77 of your bill goes to Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Fire and rescue](#d-fire~fire) £84.10 ** 86.9% of this part · £40.7m in 2025-26 · £34 per resident; similar councils £47 · up 0.5% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-fire~central) £12.67 ** 13.1% of this part · £6.1m in 2025-26 · £5.17 per resident; similar councils £0.73 · up 9.4% on 2024-25 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 fire and rescue authorities closest in population: Nottinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Leicestershire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority, Cheshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Derbyshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Humberside Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Fire and rescue ### Fire and rescue £84.10 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £40.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Firefighting and rescue £63.89 ** 76.0% of this · £30.9m in 2025-26 · £26 per resident; similar councils £41 · down 1.2% on 2024-25 - Community fire safety £20.17 ** 24.0% of this · £9.8m in 2025-26 · £8.23 per resident; similar councils £5.48 · up 5.8% on 2024-25 - Fire emergency planning £0.03 ** under 0.1% of this · £16k in 2025-26 · £0.01 per resident; similar councils £0.08 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Running the council ### Running the council £12.67 of your bill goes to running the council at Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £6.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Other central services £12.13 ** 95.7% of this · £5.9m in 2025-26 · £4.95 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 9.6% on 2024-25 - Corporate and democratic core £0.55 ** 4.3% of this · £265k in 2025-26 · £0.22 per resident; similar councils £0.50 · up 4.7% on 2024-25 ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Stoke-on-Trent 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 | £1.4m | £5.18 | £18 | — | down 39.6% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£5.18Similar councils, per resident£18Per mile of road—Changedown 39.6% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £4.7m | £17 | £12 | £8,667 (similar: £6,584) | down 26.1% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£17Similar councils, per resident£12Per mile of road£8,667 (similar: £6,584)Changedown 26.1% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £1.2m | £4.28 | £14 | £2,153 (similar: £6,457) | down 56.7% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£4.28Similar councils, per resident£14Per mile of road£2,153 (similar: £6,457)Changedown 56.7% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £1.1m | £3.89 | £9.88 | £1,956 (similar: £5,406) | down 38.7% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£3.89Similar councils, per resident£9.88Per mile of road£1,956 (similar: £5,406)Changedown 38.7% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £107k | £0.39 | £3.11 | £198 (similar: £1,687) | down 88.9% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£0.39Similar councils, per resident£3.11Per mile of road£198 (similar: £1,687)Changedown 88.9% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £529k | £1.94 | £1.62 | £978 (similar: £853) | down 41.3% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£1.94Similar councils, per resident£1.62Per mile of road£978 (similar: £853)Changedown 41.3% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £6.4m | £24 | £9.17 | £11,917 (similar: £3,798) | down 34.6% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£24Similar councils, per resident£9.17Per mile of road£11,917 (similar: £3,798)Changedown 34.6% on 2024-25 | | | | | | Miles of road: Department for Transport road lengths, 2025; locally managed major roads and all minor roads. More on [what council tax does and doesn't pay for](/what-council-tax-pays-for/#local-environment). ## What it adds up to | Service | Per resident | Median | | --- | --- | --- | | EducationDetails | £572 | £718 | | Median£718 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £517 | £300 | | Median£300 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £513 | £478 | | Median£478 | | | | Public healthDetails | £116 | £64 | | Median£64 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £77 | £49 | | Median£49 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £55 | £111 | | Median£111 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £44 | £52 | | Median£52 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £36 | £33 | | Median£33 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £31 | £38 | | Median£38 | | | | Other servicesDetails | £11 | £9.20 | | Median£9.20 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £4.39 | £22 | | Median£22 | | | - Stoke-on-Trent spent **25.2%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for unitary councils in England: 31.4%); 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 Stoke-on-Trent](/council-tax/england/stoke-on-trent/) and [everything else about Stoke-on-Trent](/your-area/stoke-on-trent/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Stoke-on-Trent? A Band D bill of £2,183.12 is split between Stoke-on-Trent, Stoke-on-Trent: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Staffordshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Staffordshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. In proportion to spending, the largest line is children's social care, £611.13.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 Stoke-on-Trent UA](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/stoke-on-trent-ua/) - [Back to Stoke-on-Trent: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/stoke-on-trent/) - [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.