# Where your council tax goes in Torbay url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/torbay/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 Torbay Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **Torbay** is **£2,470.25** for 2026-27, split between Torbay £2,005.17, Torbay: adult social care precept, this year's increase £38.94, Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £303.20, Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £109.68, Parish and town councils (average for the area) £13.26. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at Torbay: **£686.79** of the bill. Council tax pays for 22% 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 - £2,470.25Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £2,005.17Goes to Torbay itself (81%) As of 6 April 2026 - £686.79Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 21.7%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. 2005.17 38.94 303.20 109.68 13.26 Torbay 81%Torbay: adult social care precept, this year's increase 2%Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 12%Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 4%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 21.7%** of the money Torbay had to spend in 2025-26. ********** - Council tax 21.7% £95.9m - Business rates 9.6% £42.5m - General government grant 1.9% £8.5m - Government grants for specific services 37.4% £165.4m - Fees, charges and other income 29.4% £129.7m It also put £11.7m 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: £2,470.25 - [Torbay](#d-council) £2,005.17 ** Your council · 81.2% of the bill - [Torbay: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) £38.94 ** Adult social care precept · 1.6% of the bill - [Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £303.20 ** Police · 12.3% of the bill - [Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) £109.68 ** Fire and rescue · 4.4% of the bill - Parish and town councils (average for the area) £13.26 ** Parish or town council · 0.5% of the bill. Parish, town and community councils do not file spending returns with the government, so there is no national breakdown. Each publishes its own annual accounts. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Torbay ### Torbay £2,005.17 of your bill goes to Torbay. It is shared out below in proportion to how Torbay spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £686.79 ** 34.3% of this part · £69.5m in 2025-26 · £498 per resident; similar councils £486 · up 3.4% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £618.16 ** 30.8% of this part · £62.6m in 2025-26 · £449 per resident; similar councils £399 · up 12.8% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-council~education) £201.34 ** 10.0% of this part · £84.0m in 2025-26 · £602 per resident; similar councils £794 · up 13.3% on 2024-25 - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £155.40 ** 7.8% of this part · £15.7m in 2025-26 · £113 per resident; similar councils £114 · up 7.3% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £109.45 ** 5.5% of this part · £11.1m in 2025-26 · £79 per resident; similar councils £70 · up 13.9% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £79.45 ** 4.0% of this part · £8.0m in 2025-26 · £58 per resident; similar councils £34 · up 9.4% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £47.76 ** 2.4% of this part · £4.8m in 2025-26 · £35 per resident; similar councils £38 · up 11.0% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £44.94 ** 2.2% of this part · £4.5m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £63 · up 248.0% on 2024-25 - [Public health](#d-council~public-health) £33.81 ** 1.7% of this part · £15.0m in 2025-26 · £108 per resident; similar councils £104 · up 5.4% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £24.28 ** 1.2% of this part · £2.5m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £17 · down 33.8% on 2024-25 - Other services £3.78 ** 0.2% of this part · £383k in 2025-26 · £2.75 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 22.0% on 2024-25 Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£63.6m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£11.6m) 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: Redcar and Cleveland, Isle of Wight, Blackpool, Bracknell Forest, Halton, Middlesbrough, Windsor and Maidenhead, North East Lincolnshire, Blackburn with Darwen, West Berkshire. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £686.79 of your bill goes to adult social care at Torbay. Here is how its £69.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £239.90 ** 34.9% of this · £24.3m in 2025-26 · £174 per resident; similar councils £151 · up 8.5% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-council~adult-social-care.physical) £222.72 ** 32.4% of this · £22.5m in 2025-26 · £162 per resident; similar councils £137 · down 6.4% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £80.52 ** 11.7% of this · £8.2m in 2025-26 · £58 per resident; similar councils £54 · up 5.8% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-council~adult-social-care.memory) £58.32 ** 8.5% of this · £5.9m in 2025-26 · £42 per resident; similar councils £30 · up 13.9% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £39.10 ** 5.7% of this · £4.0m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £20 · up 22.6% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £14.11 ** 2.1% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £10 per resident; similar councils £1.28 · up 5.0% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £13.42 ** 2.0% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £9.74 per resident; similar councils £5.60 · down 17.7% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £9.75 ** 1.4% of this · £987k in 2025-26 · £7.08 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 25.6% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-council~adult-social-care.sensory) £6.34 ** 0.9% of this · £642k in 2025-26 · £4.60 per resident; similar councils £2.92 · up 36.3% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £2.61 ** 0.4% of this · £264k in 2025-26 · £1.89 per resident; similar councils £54 · down 37.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £239.90 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Torbay. Here is how its £24.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £211.83 ** 88.3% of this · £21.4m in 2025-26 · £154 per resident; similar councils £139 · up 11.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £28.08 ** 11.7% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £18 · down 8.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £222.72 of your bill goes to physical support at Torbay. Here is how its £22.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £160.34 ** 72.0% of this · £16.2m in 2025-26 · £116 per resident; similar councils £105 · down 10.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £62.38 ** 28.0% of this · £6.3m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident; similar councils £33 · up 5.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £80.52 of your bill goes to mental health support at Torbay. Here is how its £8.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £44.19 ** 54.9% of this · £4.5m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 2.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £36.33 ** 45.1% of this · £3.7m in 2025-26 · £26 per resident; similar councils £36 · up 9.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £58.32 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Torbay. Here is how its £5.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £51.99 ** 89.1% of this · £5.3m in 2025-26 · £38 per resident; similar councils £29 · up 15.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £6.33 ** 10.9% of this · £641k in 2025-26 · £4.60 per resident; similar councils £1.70 · up 4.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £6.34 of your bill goes to sensory support at Torbay. Here is how its £642k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £5.75 ** 90.7% of this · £582k in 2025-26 · £4.17 per resident; similar councils £1.35 · up 39.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.59 ** 9.3% of this · £60k in 2025-26 · £0.43 per resident; similar councils £1.06 · up 9.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £618.16 of your bill goes to children's social care at Torbay. Here is how its £62.6m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £313.74 ** 50.8% of this · £31.8m in 2025-26 · £228 per resident; similar councils £221 · up 19.2% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £235.92 ** 38.2% of this · £23.9m in 2025-26 · £171 per resident; similar councils £82 · up 13.0% on 2024-25 - Family support £44.55 ** 7.2% of this · £4.5m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £40 · down 14.7% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £10.11 ** 1.6% of this · £1.0m in 2025-26 · £7.33 per resident; similar councils £8.73 · up 20.6% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £9.19 ** 1.5% of this · £930k in 2025-26 · £6.67 per resident; similar councils £4.62 · up 10.7% on 2024-25 - Children's centres and early years £2.38 ** 0.4% of this · £241k in 2025-26 · £1.73 per resident; similar councils £9.56 · down 5.1% on 2024-25 - Other children's and families' services £2.27 ** 0.4% of this · £230k in 2025-26 · £1.65 per resident; similar councils £0.41 · down 52.9% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - Education ### Education £201.34 of your bill goes to education at Torbay. Here is how its £84.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Secondary schools £61.40 ** 30.5% of this · £25.6m in 2025-26 · £184 per resident; similar councils £73 · up 2.9% on 2024-25 - Primary schools £42.29 ** 21.0% of this · £17.6m in 2025-26 · £126 per resident; similar councils £280 · up 9.1% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £37.51 ** 18.6% of this · £15.6m in 2025-26 · £112 per resident; similar councils £153 · up 34.9% on 2024-25 - Special schools and alternative provision £36.61 ** 18.2% of this · £15.3m in 2025-26 · £109 per resident; similar councils £166 · up 18.9% on 2024-25 - Other education £16.23 ** 8.1% of this · £6.8m in 2025-26 · £49 per resident; similar councils £87 · up 13.4% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £7.30 ** 3.6% of this · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 16.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £155.40 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at Torbay. Here is how its £15.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Waste collection £55.15 ** 35.5% of this · £6.6m in 2025-26 · £47 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 11.1% on 2024-25 - Waste disposal £35.00 ** 22.5% of this · £4.2m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £55 · up 8.8% on 2024-25 - Street cleaning £18.56 ** 11.9% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 4.3% on 2024-25 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £18.29 ** 11.8% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £7.31 · up 3.5% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £17.98 ** 11.6% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £4.19 · up 4.0% on 2024-25 - Public toilets £5.72 ** 3.7% of this · £685k in 2025-26 · £4.91 per resident; similar councils £0.11 · up 14.4% on 2024-25 - Trading standards £2.47 ** 1.6% of this · £295k in 2025-26 · £2.11 per resident; similar councils £3.31 · down 12.7% on 2024-25 - Recycling and waste minimisation £1.70 ** 1.1% of this · £203k in 2025-26 · £1.46 per resident; similar councils £8.38 · up 1.5% on 2024-25 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £0.53 ** 0.3% of this · £64k in 2025-26 · £0.46 per resident; similar councils £0.60 · down 26.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £109.45 of your bill goes to running the council at Torbay. Here is how its £11.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Other central services £32.44 ** 29.6% of this · £3.3m in 2025-26 · £24 per resident; similar councils £2.57 · up 99.9% on 2024-25 - Corporate and democratic core £29.26 ** 26.7% of this · £3.0m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £32 · down 7.3% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £22.95 ** 21.0% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £17 per resident; similar councils £8.33 · down 0.5% on 2024-25 - Non-distributed costs (past pensions, unused assets) £12.53 ** 11.4% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £9.09 per resident; similar councils £5.41 · down 6.1% on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £6.29 ** 5.8% of this · £637k in 2025-26 · £4.57 per resident; similar councils £3.13 · up 14.0% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £3.42 ** 3.1% of this · £346k in 2025-26 · £2.48 per resident; similar councils £2.33 · down 2.8% on 2024-25 - Registering births, deaths and marriages £1.50 ** 1.4% of this · £152k in 2025-26 · £1.09 per resident; similar councils £0.39 · up 4.8% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £0.86 ** 0.8% of this · £87k in 2025-26 · £0.62 per resident; similar councils £0.73 · up 8.8% on 2024-25 - Local welfare assistance £0.19 ** 0.2% of this · £19k in 2025-26 · £0.14 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 69.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £79.45 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at Torbay. Here is how its £8.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £57.19 ** 72.0% of this · £5.8m in 2025-26 · £42 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 6.1% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £17.47 ** 22.0% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £7.68 · up 0.9% on 2024-25 - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £3.16 ** 4.0% of this · £320k in 2025-26 · £2.29 per resident; similar councils £2.46 · up 31.7% on 2024-25 - Supporting People and welfare services £1.63 ** 2.0% of this · £165k in 2025-26 · £1.18 per resident; similar councils £0.22 **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. Torbay 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) - [Torbay](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £47.76 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at Torbay. Here is how its £4.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £21.64 ** 45.3% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £6.22 · up 4.5% on 2024-25 - Libraries £14.84 ** 31.1% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 2.5% on 2024-25 - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £4.60 ** 9.6% of this · £466k in 2025-26 · £3.34 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 75.8% on 2024-25 - Sport and leisure £2.87 ** 6.0% of this · £290k in 2025-26 · £2.08 per resident; similar councils £6.11 · up 95.9% on 2024-25 - Tourism £2.29 ** 4.8% of this · £232k in 2025-26 · £1.66 per resident; similar councils £0.13 · down 15.9% on 2024-25 - Other culture and leisure £1.45 ** 3.0% of this · £147k in 2025-26 · £1.05 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 50.0% on 2024-25 - Community centres and public halls £0.07 ** 0.1% of this · £7k in 2025-26 · £0.05 per resident; similar councils £0.06 · no change on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £44.94 of your bill goes to roads and transport at Torbay. Here is how its £4.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Concessionary bus fares £20.97 ** 46.7% of this · £4.6m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 18.5% on 2024-25 - [Road and bridge maintenance](#d-council~highways-transport.maintenance) £11.62 ** 25.9% of this · £2.5m in 2025-26 · £18 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 17.7% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £5.31 ** 11.8% of this · £1.2m in 2025-26 · £8.34 per resident; similar councils £8.95 - Transport planning and policy £2.97 ** 6.6% of this · £650k in 2025-26 · £4.66 per resident; similar councils £4.51 · up 56.6% on 2024-25 - Other transport (airports, harbours, tolls) £2.23 ** 5.0% of this · £489k in 2025-26 · £3.51 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · up 0.4% on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £0.94 ** 2.1% of this · £206k in 2025-26 · £1.48 per resident; similar councils £2.28 - Traffic management and road safety £0.90 ** 2.0% of this · £197k in 2025-26 · £1.41 per resident; similar councils £3.38 · up 21.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) - Road and bridge maintenance ### Road and bridge maintenance £11.62 of your bill goes to road and bridge maintenance at Torbay. Here is how its £2.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Environmental, safety and routine maintenance £6.89 ** 59.3% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 18.2% on 2024-25 - Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges) £4.72 ** 40.7% of this · £1.0m in 2025-26 · £7.41 per resident; similar councils £2.83 · up 17.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - Public health ### Public health £33.81 of your bill goes to public health at Torbay. Here is how its £15.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Other public health £10.24 ** 30.3% of this · £4.5m in 2025-26 · £33 per resident; similar councils £9.06 · down 18.9% on 2024-25 - Drug and alcohol services £7.70 ** 22.8% of this · £3.4m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £22 · up 26.6% on 2024-25 - Health visiting and children's 0-5 services £6.29 ** 18.6% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £20 · down 2.0% on 2024-25 - Sexual health £4.50 ** 13.3% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £8.43 · up 33.6% on 2024-25 - Children's 5-19 programmes £1.64 ** 4.9% of this · £730k in 2025-26 · £5.23 per resident; similar councils £4.91 · up 14.1% on 2024-25 - NHS health checks and health protection £1.04 ** 3.1% of this · £460k in 2025-26 · £3.30 per resident; similar councils £4.69 · up 25.3% on 2024-25 - Stop smoking and tobacco control £0.95 ** 2.8% of this · £423k in 2025-26 · £3.03 per resident; similar councils £2.82 · up 36.9% on 2024-25 - Obesity and physical activity £0.75 ** 2.2% of this · £333k in 2025-26 · £2.39 per resident; similar councils £6.18 · up 78.1% on 2024-25 - Public mental health £0.70 ** 2.1% of this · £311k in 2025-26 · £2.23 per resident; similar councils £1.90 · up 234.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £24.28 of your bill goes to planning and development at Torbay. Here is how its £2.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Planning applications (development management) £13.09 ** 53.9% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £9.50 per resident; similar councils £4.95 · down 10.4% on 2024-25 - Planning policy £5.80 ** 23.9% of this · £587k in 2025-26 · £4.21 per resident; similar councils £2.26 · up 15.6% on 2024-25 - Building control £3.30 ** 13.6% of this · £334k in 2025-26 · £2.39 per resident; similar councils £1.42 · down 0.9% on 2024-25 - Economic development and business support £1.38 ** 5.7% of this · £140k in 2025-26 · £1.00 per resident; similar councils £2.47 · down 89.4% on 2024-25 - Community development £0.71 ** 2.9% of this · £72k in 2025-26 · £0.52 per resident; similar councils £0.99 · no change on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Torbay: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### Torbay: adult social care precept, this year's increase £38.94 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 Torbay's adult social care spending of £69.5m divided in 2025-26. MHCLG publishes only this year's increase; the running total since 2016-17 printed on your bill is in the council part above. - [Learning disability support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £13.60 ** 34.9% of this precept · £24.3m in 2025-26 · £174 per resident; similar councils £151 · up 8.5% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.physical) £12.63 ** 32.4% of this precept · £22.5m in 2025-26 · £162 per resident; similar councils £137 · down 6.4% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £4.57 ** 11.7% of this precept · £8.2m in 2025-26 · £58 per resident; similar councils £54 · up 5.8% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £3.31 ** 8.5% of this precept · £5.9m in 2025-26 · £42 per resident; similar councils £30 · up 13.9% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £2.22 ** 5.7% of this precept · £4.0m in 2025-26 · £28 per resident; similar councils £20 · up 22.6% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.80 ** 2.1% of this precept · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £10 per resident; similar councils £1.28 · up 5.0% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.76 ** 2.0% of this precept · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £9.74 per resident; similar councils £5.60 · down 17.7% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £0.55 ** 1.4% of this precept · £987k in 2025-26 · £7.08 per resident; similar councils £11 · up 25.6% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.36 ** 0.9% of this precept · £642k in 2025-26 · £4.60 per resident; similar councils £2.92 · up 36.3% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £0.15 ** 0.4% of this precept · £264k in 2025-26 · £1.89 per resident; similar councils £54 · down 37.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £13.60 of your bill goes to learning disability support at Torbay. Here is how its £24.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £12.01 ** 88.3% of this · £21.4m in 2025-26 · £154 per resident; similar councils £139 · up 11.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.59 ** 11.7% of this · £2.8m in 2025-26 · £20 per resident; similar councils £18 · down 8.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £12.63 of your bill goes to physical support at Torbay. Here is how its £22.5m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £9.09 ** 72.0% of this · £16.2m in 2025-26 · £116 per resident; similar councils £105 · down 10.3% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £3.54 ** 28.0% of this · £6.3m in 2025-26 · £45 per resident; similar councils £33 · up 5.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £4.57 of your bill goes to mental health support at Torbay. Here is how its £8.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £2.51 ** 54.9% of this · £4.5m in 2025-26 · £32 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 2.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £2.06 ** 45.1% of this · £3.7m in 2025-26 · £26 per resident; similar councils £36 · up 9.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £3.31 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at Torbay. Here is how its £5.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £2.95 ** 89.1% of this · £5.3m in 2025-26 · £38 per resident; similar councils £29 · up 15.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.36 ** 10.9% of this · £641k in 2025-26 · £4.60 per resident; similar councils £1.70 · up 4.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Torbay: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.36 of your bill goes to sensory support at Torbay. Here is how its £642k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £0.33 ** 90.7% of this · £582k in 2025-26 · £4.17 per resident; similar councils £1.35 · up 39.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.03 ** 9.3% of this · £60k in 2025-26 · £0.43 per resident; similar councils £1.06 · up 9.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £303.20 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 Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £474.7m divided in 2025-26. MHCLG publishes only this year's increase; the running total since 2016-17 printed on your bill is in the council part above. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority ### Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £109.68 of your bill goes to Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Fire and rescue](#d-fire~fire) £108.69 ** 99.1% of this part · £103.1m in 2025-26 · £56 per resident; similar councils £48 · up 6.9% on 2024-25 - Running the council £0.99 ** 0.9% of this part · £939k in 2025-26 · £0.51 per resident; similar councils £0.78 · up 20.8% on 2024-25 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 fire and rescue authorities closest in population: Essex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Kent Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority, Lancashire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Authority, South Wales Fire Authority, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Avon Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Fire and rescue ### Fire and rescue £108.69 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £103.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Firefighting and rescue £99.49 ** 91.5% of this · £94.4m in 2025-26 · £51 per resident; similar councils £41 · up 7.4% on 2024-25 - Community fire safety £8.94 ** 8.2% of this · £8.5m in 2025-26 · £4.59 per resident; similar councils £5.15 · up 0.7% on 2024-25 - Fire emergency planning £0.26 ** 0.2% of this · £247k in 2025-26 · £0.13 per resident; similar councils £0.13 · up 28.6% on 2024-25 ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What Torbay 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 | £466k | £3.34 | £15 | — | up 75.8% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£3.34Similar councils, per resident£15Per mile of road—Changeup 75.8% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £2.2m | £16 | £15 | £6,771 (similar: £5,583) | up 4.3% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£16Similar councils, per resident£15Per mile of road£6,771 (similar: £5,583)Changeup 4.3% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £2.5m | £18 | £14 | £7,753 (similar: £5,297) | up 17.7% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£18Similar councils, per resident£14Per mile of road£7,753 (similar: £5,297)Changeup 17.7% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | £1.5m | £11 | £12 | £4,601 (similar: £5,113) | up 18.2% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£11Similar councils, per resident£12Per mile of road£4,601 (similar: £5,113)Changeup 18.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £1.0m | £7.41 | £2.83 | £3,152 (similar: £960) | up 17.0% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£7.41Similar councils, per resident£2.83Per mile of road£3,152 (similar: £960)Changeup 17.0% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £206k | £1.48 | £2.50 | £628 (similar: £930) | — | | Per resident£1.48Similar councils, per resident£2.50Per mile of road£628 (similar: £930)Change— | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £1.2m | £8.34 | £8.95 | £3,546 (similar: £4,206) | — | | Per resident£8.34Similar councils, per resident£8.95Per mile of road£3,546 (similar: £4,206)Change— | | | | | | 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 | £602 | £718 | | Median£718 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £498 | £478 | | Median£478 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £449 | £300 | | Median£300 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £113 | £110 | | Median£110 | | | | Public healthDetails | £108 | £64 | | Median£64 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £79 | £51 | | Median£51 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £58 | £33 | | Median£33 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £35 | £38 | | Median£38 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £33 | £49 | | Median£49 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £18 | £22 | | Median£22 | | | | Other servicesDetails | £2.75 | £10 | | Median£10 | | | - Torbay spent **22.4%** 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 Torbay](/council-tax/england/torbay/) and [everything else about Torbay](/your-area/torbay/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in Torbay? A Band D bill of £2,470.25 is split between Torbay, Torbay: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Devon and Somerset Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Parish and town councils (average for the area). In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £686.79.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 Torbay UA](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/torbay-ua/) - [Back to Torbay: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/torbay/) - [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.