# Where your council tax goes in West Berkshire url: https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/council-tax/england/west-berkshire/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 West Berkshire Last updated 29 September 2026. Figures refresh every night. [How each figure is worked out](/methodology/). A Band D council tax bill in **West Berkshire** is **£2,505.37** for 2026-27, split between West Berkshire £1,978.89, West Berkshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase £38.43, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £298.28, Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £91.31, Parish and town councils (average for the area) £98.46. Shared out in proportion to what each body spends, the largest single line is adult social care at West Berkshire: **£741.96** of the bill. Council tax pays for 27% 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 - £2,505.37Band D bill, 2026-27 As of 6 April 2026 - £1,978.89Goes to West Berkshire itself (79%) As of 6 April 2026 - £741.96Largest line: adult social care As of 28 September 2026 - 27.4%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. 1978.89 38.43 298.28 91.31 98.46 West Berkshire 79%West Berkshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase 2%Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable 12%Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority 4%Parish and town councils (average for the area) 4% 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 27.4%** of the money West Berkshire had to spend in 2025-26. ********** - Council tax 27.4% £131.6m - Business rates 7.1% £34.1m - General government grant 0.1% £456k - Government grants for specific services 47.9% £229.9m - Fees, charges and other income 17.5% £84.1m It also put £3.9m 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: £2,505.37 - [West Berkshire](#d-council) £1,978.89 ** Your council · 79.0% of the bill - [West Berkshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) £38.43 ** Adult social care precept · 1.5% of the bill - [Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable](#d-police) £298.28 ** Police · 11.9% of the bill - [Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) £91.31 ** Fire and rescue · 3.6% of the bill - Parish and town councils (average for the area) £98.46 ** Parish or town council · 3.9% 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) - West Berkshire ### West Berkshire £1,978.89 of your bill goes to West Berkshire. It is shared out below in proportion to how West Berkshire spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) £741.96 ** 37.5% of this part · £78.7m in 2025-26 · £476 per resident; similar councils £447 · up 7.5% on 2024-25 - [Children's social care](#d-council~childrens-social-care) £386.28 ** 19.5% of this part · £41.0m in 2025-26 · £248 per resident; similar councils £342 · up 10.5% on 2024-25 - [Education](#d-council~education) £350.50 ** 17.7% of this part · £177.3m in 2025-26 · £1,071 per resident; similar councils £693 · up 7.1% on 2024-25 - [Environment and regulation](#d-council~environment) £245.48 ** 12.4% of this part · £26.1m in 2025-26 · £157 per resident; similar councils £111 · up 1.5% on 2024-25 - [Running the council](#d-council~central) £91.96 ** 4.6% of this part · £9.8m in 2025-26 · £59 per resident; similar councils £70 · up 143.8% on 2024-25 - [Housing (not council homes)](#d-council~housing) £54.93 ** 2.8% of this part · £5.8m in 2025-26 · £35 per resident; similar councils £50 · down 5.0% on 2024-25 Not council homes: [see the note](#d-council~housing). - [Parks, leisure, libraries and culture](#d-council~culture-leisure) £46.31 ** 2.3% of this part · £4.9m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £37 · down 11.1% on 2024-25 - [Roads and transport](#d-council~highways-transport) £38.85 ** 2.0% of this part · £4.1m in 2025-26 · £25 per resident; similar councils £33 · down 23.3% on 2024-25 - [Planning and development](#d-council~planning-development) £22.03 ** 1.1% of this part · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 22.0% on 2024-25 - [Public health](#d-council~public-health) £0.58 ** under 0.1% of this part · £7.0m in 2025-26 · £43 per resident; similar councils £68 · up 3.5% on 2024-25 Before sharing out your bill, the part of education paid for by the Dedicated Schools Grant (£140.1m) and public health paid for by the public health grant (£7.0m) 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: Blackburn with Darwen, Slough, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, Windsor and Maidenhead, Middlesbrough, Thurrock, Reading, Southend-on-Sea, Wokingham. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - Adult social care ### Adult social care £741.96 of your bill goes to adult social care at West Berkshire. Here is how its £78.7m of net spending on it divides in the return. - [Learning disability support](#d-council~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £286.48 ** 38.6% of this · £30.4m in 2025-26 · £184 per resident; similar councils £140 · up 6.5% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-council~adult-social-care.physical) £168.82 ** 22.8% of this · £17.9m in 2025-26 · £108 per resident; similar councils £140 · up 14.0% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-council~adult-social-care.memory) £96.24 ** 13.0% of this · £10.2m in 2025-26 · £62 per resident; similar councils £22 · down 7.8% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-council~adult-social-care.mental-health) £82.78 ** 11.2% of this · £8.8m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £47 · up 31.4% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £63.33 ** 8.5% of this · £6.7m in 2025-26 · £41 per resident; similar councils £49 · up 4.5% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £14.85 ** 2.0% of this · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £9.52 per resident; similar councils £4.60 · up 15.0% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £14.52 ** 2.0% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £9.31 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 0.1% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £10.37 ** 1.4% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £6.65 per resident; similar councils £9.38 · down 18.1% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-council~adult-social-care.sensory) £4.39 ** 0.6% of this · £466k in 2025-26 · £2.82 per resident; similar councils £2.72 · down 15.1% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.18 ** under 0.1% of this · £19k in 2025-26 · £0.11 per resident; similar councils £3.93 · up 375.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £286.48 of your bill goes to learning disability support at West Berkshire. Here is how its £30.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £253.19 ** 88.4% of this · £26.9m in 2025-26 · £162 per resident; similar councils £120 · up 6.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £33.29 ** 11.6% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 5.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £168.82 of your bill goes to physical support at West Berkshire. Here is how its £17.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £139.23 ** 82.5% of this · £14.8m in 2025-26 · £89 per resident; similar councils £106 · up 16.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £29.59 ** 17.5% of this · £3.1m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £32 · up 4.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £96.24 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at West Berkshire. Here is how its £10.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £91.83 ** 95.4% of this · £9.7m in 2025-26 · £59 per resident; similar councils £20 · down 9.0% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £4.41 ** 4.6% of this · £468k in 2025-26 · £2.83 per resident; similar councils £1.75 · up 24.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £82.78 of your bill goes to mental health support at West Berkshire. Here is how its £8.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £61.25 ** 74.0% of this · £6.5m in 2025-26 · £39 per resident; similar councils £29 · up 27.4% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £21.52 ** 26.0% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 44.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - [Adult social care](#d-council~adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £4.39 of your bill goes to sensory support at West Berkshire. Here is how its £466k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £3.09 ** 70.4% of this · £328k in 2025-26 · £1.98 per resident; similar councils £1.33 · down 7.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.30 ** 29.6% of this · £138k in 2025-26 · £0.83 per resident; similar councils £1.50 · down 28.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - Children's social care ### Children's social care £386.28 of your bill goes to children's social care at West Berkshire. Here is how its £41.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Children looked after £240.24 ** 62.2% of this · £25.5m in 2025-26 · £154 per resident; similar councils £211 · up 41.8% on 2024-25 - Safeguarding and social work £103.89 ** 26.9% of this · £11.0m in 2025-26 · £67 per resident; similar councils £84 · up 6.6% on 2024-25 - Family support £25.69 ** 6.6% of this · £2.7m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £35 · down 58.7% on 2024-25 - Youth justice £7.49 ** 1.9% of this · £795k in 2025-26 · £4.80 per resident; similar councils £5.17 · up 9.8% on 2024-25 - Asylum-seeking children £7.46 ** 1.9% of this · £792k in 2025-26 · £4.78 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 37.5% on 2024-25 - Services for young people £1.29 ** 0.3% of this · £137k in 2025-26 · £0.83 per resident; similar councils £8.34 · up 3.0% on 2024-25 - Children's centres and early years £0.22 ** under 0.1% of this · £23k in 2025-26 · £0.14 per resident; similar councils £7.36 · down 65.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - Education ### Education £350.50 of your bill goes to education at West Berkshire. Here is how its £177.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Primary schools £153.28 ** 43.7% of this · £77.5m in 2025-26 · £468 per resident; similar councils £208 · up 1.9% on 2024-25 - Secondary schools £66.07 ** 18.9% of this · £33.4m in 2025-26 · £202 per resident; similar councils £67 · down 0.3% on 2024-25 - Special schools and alternative provision £56.40 ** 16.1% of this · £28.5m in 2025-26 · £172 per resident; similar councils £151 · up 2.2% on 2024-25 - Early years and nursery £50.95 ** 14.5% of this · £25.8m in 2025-26 · £156 per resident; similar councils £164 · up 49.3% on 2024-25 - Other education £19.50 ** 5.6% of this · £9.9m in 2025-26 · £60 per resident; similar councils £87 · up 7.0% on 2024-25 - Post-16 £4.31 ** 1.2% of this · £2.2m in 2025-26 · £13 per resident; similar councils £14 · up 48.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - Environment and regulation ### Environment and regulation £245.48 of your bill goes to environment and regulation at West Berkshire. Here is how its £26.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Waste disposal £105.73 ** 43.1% of this · £11.2m in 2025-26 · £68 per resident; similar councils £41 · up 4.0% on 2024-25 - Recycling and waste minimisation £42.84 ** 17.5% of this · £4.5m in 2025-26 · £27 per resident; similar councils £21 · up 6.5% on 2024-25 - Waste collection £35.45 ** 14.4% of this · £3.8m in 2025-26 · £23 per resident; similar councils £17 · up 4.1% on 2024-25 - Street cleaning £34.00 ** 13.8% of this · £3.6m in 2025-26 · £22 per resident; similar councils £15 · up 4.0% on 2024-25 - Environmental health, food safety, pest control and licensing £14.55 ** 5.9% of this · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £9.33 per resident; similar councils £9.94 · down 7.8% on 2024-25 - Trading standards £7.30 ** 3.0% of this · £775k in 2025-26 · £4.68 per resident; similar councils £1.94 · down 20.0% on 2024-25 - Community safety and CCTV £4.02 ** 1.6% of this · £427k in 2025-26 · £2.58 per resident; similar councils £7.41 · down 13.4% on 2024-25 - Flood defence, land drainage and coast protection £1.38 ** 0.6% of this · £146k in 2025-26 · £0.88 per resident; similar councils £0.13 · down 37.3% on 2024-25 - Other environmental services £0.22 ** under 0.1% of this · £23k in 2025-26 · £0.14 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 69.7% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - Running the council ### Running the council £91.96 of your bill goes to running the council at West Berkshire. Here is how its £9.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Corporate and democratic core £76.79 ** 83.5% of this · £8.7m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £26 · up 114.6% on 2024-25 - Coroners' and other courts £5.22 ** 5.7% of this · £592k in 2025-26 · £3.58 per resident; similar councils £2.56 · up 11.5% on 2024-25 - Collecting council tax and business rates £4.12 ** 4.5% of this · £468k in 2025-26 · £2.83 per resident; similar councils £8.32 · down 26.8% on 2024-25 - Elections and electoral registration £3.80 ** 4.1% of this · £431k in 2025-26 · £2.60 per resident; similar councils £2.31 · up 21.4% on 2024-25 - Emergency planning £2.04 ** 2.2% of this · £231k in 2025-26 · £1.40 per resident; similar councils £0.86 · down 21.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - Housing (not council homes) ### Housing (not council homes) £54.93 of your bill goes to housing (not council homes) at West Berkshire. Here is how its £5.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Homelessness and temporary accommodation £44.00 ** 80.1% of this · £4.9m in 2025-26 · £30 per resident; similar councils £27 · down 5.7% on 2024-25 - Housing benefit administration and discretionary payments £6.79 ** 12.4% of this · £755k in 2025-26 · £4.56 per resident; similar councils £3.50 · up 0.1% on 2024-25 - Housing strategy, advice and enabling £4.14 ** 7.5% of this · £461k in 2025-26 · £2.79 per resident; similar councils £2.98 · up 25.3% on 2024-25 **Council homes are not in this.** Council housing is paid for through the Housing Revenue Account, from tenants' rents, and the law keeps it separate from the General Fund that council tax goes into. West Berkshire 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) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - Parks, leisure, libraries and culture ### Parks, leisure, libraries and culture £46.31 of your bill goes to parks, leisure, libraries and culture at West Berkshire. Here is how its £4.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Parks and open spaces (including play areas) £22.62 ** 48.9% of this · £2.4m in 2025-26 · £15 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 6.3% on 2024-25 - Libraries £13.02 ** 28.1% of this · £1.4m in 2025-26 · £8.35 per resident; similar councils £12 · up 1.1% on 2024-25 - Museums, arts, heritage and archives £8.02 ** 17.3% of this · £851k in 2025-26 · £5.14 per resident; similar councils £11 · down 21.7% on 2024-25 - Sport and leisure £1.40 ** 3.0% of this · £149k in 2025-26 · £0.90 per resident; similar councils £0.00 · down 52.2% on 2024-25 - Tourism £1.23 ** 2.7% of this · £131k in 2025-26 · £0.79 per resident; similar councils £0.03 · down 17.1% on 2024-25 - Community centres and public halls £0.01 ** under 0.1% of this · £1k in 2025-26 · £0.01 per resident; similar councils £0.08 · down 97.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - Roads and transport ### Roads and transport £38.85 of your bill goes to roads and transport at West Berkshire. Here is how its £4.1m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Support for bus, rail and other public transport £12.17 ** 31.3% of this · £1.8m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £11 · down 16.1% on 2024-25 - Street lighting (including energy) £7.11 ** 18.3% of this · £1.0m in 2025-26 · £6.24 per resident; similar councils £5.63 · up 4.8% on 2024-25 - Transport planning and policy £4.92 ** 12.7% of this · £714k in 2025-26 · £4.31 per resident; similar councils £7.44 · up 48.8% on 2024-25 - Winter service (gritting) £4.72 ** 12.2% of this · £686k in 2025-26 · £4.14 per resident; similar councils £0.99 · up 3.2% on 2024-25 - Traffic management and road safety £4.33 ** 11.1% of this · £629k in 2025-26 · £3.80 per resident; similar councils £1.88 · down 17.5% on 2024-25 - Concessionary bus fares £4.23 ** 10.9% of this · £615k in 2025-26 · £3.72 per resident; similar councils £14 · down 4.1% on 2024-25 - Road and bridge maintenance £1.36 ** 3.5% of this · £198k in 2025-26 · £1.20 per resident; similar councils £19 · down 73.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - Planning and development ### Planning and development £22.03 of your bill goes to planning and development at West Berkshire. Here is how its £2.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Planning applications (development management) £14.89 ** 67.6% of this · £1.9m in 2025-26 · £11 per resident; similar councils £2.14 · down 11.0% on 2024-25 - Economic development and business support £2.34 ** 10.6% of this · £297k in 2025-26 · £1.79 per resident; similar councils £1.27 · down 42.4% on 2024-25 - Environmental initiatives £1.65 ** 7.5% of this · £209k in 2025-26 · £1.26 per resident; similar councils £1.01 · up 16.8% on 2024-25 - Community development £1.62 ** 7.3% of this · £205k in 2025-26 · £1.24 per resident; similar councils £1.51 · up 3.0% on 2024-25 - Building control £1.53 ** 6.9% of this · £194k in 2025-26 · £1.17 per resident; similar councils £1.23 · up 102.1% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire](#d-council) - Public health ### Public health £0.58 of your bill goes to public health at West Berkshire. Here is how its £7.0m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Health visiting and children's 0-5 services £0.16 ** 27.8% of this · £2.0m in 2025-26 · £12 per resident; similar councils £19 · up 4.9% on 2024-25 - Drug and alcohol services £0.11 ** 18.7% of this · £1.3m in 2025-26 · £7.94 per resident; similar councils £16 · down 1.4% on 2024-25 - Sexual health £0.09 ** 15.2% of this · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £6.47 per resident; similar councils £8.48 · down 6.1% on 2024-25 - Children's 5-19 programmes £0.05 ** 9.4% of this · £658k in 2025-26 · £3.98 per resident; similar councils £4.94 · up 3.6% on 2024-25 - NHS health checks and health protection £0.05 ** 8.5% of this · £599k in 2025-26 · £3.62 per resident; similar councils £3.69 · up 12.8% on 2024-25 - Other public health £0.05 ** 8.0% of this · £561k in 2025-26 · £3.39 per resident; similar councils £7.01 · up 46.1% on 2024-25 - Stop smoking and tobacco control £0.03 ** 5.4% of this · £383k in 2025-26 · £2.31 per resident; similar councils £2.84 · down 9.7% on 2024-25 - Obesity and physical activity £0.03 ** 4.6% of this · £321k in 2025-26 · £1.94 per resident; similar councils £3.79 · up 2.6% on 2024-25 - Public mental health £0.01 ** 2.4% of this · £169k in 2025-26 · £1.02 per resident; similar councils £1.42 · up 1.2% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - West Berkshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase ### West Berkshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase £38.43 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 West Berkshire's adult social care spending of £78.7m 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. - [Learning disability support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.learning-disability) £14.84 ** 38.6% of this precept · £30.4m in 2025-26 · £184 per resident; similar councils £140 · up 6.5% on 2024-25 - [Physical support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.physical) £8.74 ** 22.8% of this precept · £17.9m in 2025-26 · £108 per resident; similar councils £140 · up 14.0% on 2024-25 - [Support with memory and cognition](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.memory) £4.98 ** 13.0% of this precept · £10.2m in 2025-26 · £62 per resident; similar councils £22 · down 7.8% on 2024-25 - [Mental health support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.mental-health) £4.29 ** 11.2% of this precept · £8.8m in 2025-26 · £53 per resident; similar councils £47 · up 31.4% on 2024-25 - Care assessment and safeguarding £3.28 ** 8.5% of this precept · £6.7m in 2025-26 · £41 per resident; similar councils £49 · up 4.5% on 2024-25 - Information and early intervention £0.77 ** 2.0% of this precept · £1.6m in 2025-26 · £9.52 per resident; similar councils £4.60 · up 15.0% on 2024-25 - Commissioning, strategy and administration £0.75 ** 2.0% of this precept · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £9.31 per resident; similar councils £25 · up 0.1% on 2024-25 - Social support (carers, substance misuse, isolation, asylum) £0.54 ** 1.4% of this precept · £1.1m in 2025-26 · £6.65 per resident; similar councils £9.38 · down 18.1% on 2024-25 - [Sensory support](#d-adult-social-care~adult-social-care.sensory) £0.23 ** 0.6% of this precept · £466k in 2025-26 · £2.82 per resident; similar councils £2.72 · down 15.1% on 2024-25 - Assistive equipment and technology £0.01 ** under 0.1% of this precept · £19k in 2025-26 · £0.11 per resident; similar councils £3.93 · up 375.0% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Learning disability support ### Learning disability support £14.84 of your bill goes to learning disability support at West Berkshire. Here is how its £30.4m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £13.11 ** 88.4% of this · £26.9m in 2025-26 · £162 per resident; similar councils £120 · up 6.7% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.72 ** 11.6% of this · £3.5m in 2025-26 · £21 per resident; similar councils £18 · up 5.6% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Physical support ### Physical support £8.74 of your bill goes to physical support at West Berkshire. Here is how its £17.9m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £7.21 ** 82.5% of this · £14.8m in 2025-26 · £89 per resident; similar councils £106 · up 16.2% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £1.53 ** 17.5% of this · £3.1m in 2025-26 · £19 per resident; similar councils £32 · up 4.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Support with memory and cognition ### Support with memory and cognition £4.98 of your bill goes to support with memory and cognition at West Berkshire. Here is how its £10.2m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 65 and over £4.76 ** 95.4% of this · £9.7m in 2025-26 · £59 per resident; similar councils £20 · down 9.0% on 2024-25 - Aged 18 to 64 £0.23 ** 4.6% of this · £468k in 2025-26 · £2.83 per resident; similar councils £1.75 · up 24.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Mental health support ### Mental health support £4.29 of your bill goes to mental health support at West Berkshire. Here is how its £8.8m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £3.17 ** 74.0% of this · £6.5m in 2025-26 · £39 per resident; similar councils £29 · up 27.4% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £1.11 ** 26.0% of this · £2.3m in 2025-26 · £14 per resident; similar councils £16 · up 44.4% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [West Berkshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase](#d-adult-social-care) - Sensory support ### Sensory support £0.23 of your bill goes to sensory support at West Berkshire. Here is how its £466k of net spending on it divides in the return. - Aged 18 to 64 £0.16 ** 70.4% of this · £328k in 2025-26 · £1.98 per resident; similar councils £1.33 · down 7.9% on 2024-25 - Aged 65 and over £0.07 ** 29.6% of this · £138k in 2025-26 · £0.83 per resident; similar councils £1.50 · down 28.5% on 2024-25 - [Your bill](#d-bill) - Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable ### Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable £298.28 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 Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable's adult social care spending of £715.9m 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) - Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority ### Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority £91.31 of your bill goes to Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. It is shared out below in proportion to how Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority spent its money in 2025-26, its latest published return. - [Fire and rescue](#d-fire~fire) £88.45 ** 96.9% of this part · £47.3m in 2025-26 · £47 per resident; similar councils £45 · up 6.3% on 2024-25 - Running the council £2.86 ** 3.1% of this part · £1.5m in 2025-26 · £1.53 per resident; similar councils £1.48 · up 4.2% on 2024-25 **Which councils count as similar** Medians are across the 10 fire and rescue authorities closest in population: Humberside Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Cambridgeshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Mid and West Wales Fire Authority, Derbyshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Buckinghamshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Cheshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, North Yorkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, East Sussex Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority, Leicestershire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Per-resident figures use ONS mid-year population estimates. - [Your bill](#d-bill) - [Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority](#d-fire) - Fire and rescue ### Fire and rescue £88.45 of your bill goes to fire and rescue at Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority. Here is how its £47.3m of net spending on it divides in the return. - Firefighting and rescue £58.21 ** 65.8% of this · £31.1m in 2025-26 · £31 per resident; similar councils £38 · up 6.3% on 2024-25 - Community fire safety £29.75 ** 33.6% of this · £15.9m in 2025-26 · £16 per resident; similar councils £4.35 · up 6.3% on 2024-25 - Fire emergency planning £0.49 ** 0.6% of this · £261k in 2025-26 · £0.26 per resident; similar councils £0.01 · up 6.1% on 2024-25 ## Parks, street cleaning and roads here What West Berkshire spent, net of income, on the lines readers ask about most. Roads and street cleaning are also shown per mile of road the council looks after, where it is the highway authority. Gully cleaning and verge cutting are inside routine maintenance; no return splits them out. | Line | Net spending | Per resident | Similar councils, per resident | Per mile of road | Change | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Parks and open spaces (including play areas)Details | £2.4m | £15 | £14 | — | down 6.3% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£15Similar councils, per resident£14Per mile of road—Changedown 6.3% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street cleaningDetails | £3.6m | £22 | £15 | £4,389 (similar: £7,543) | up 4.0% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£22Similar councils, per resident£15Per mile of road£4,389 (similar: £7,543)Changeup 4.0% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Road and bridge maintenanceDetails | £198k | £1.20 | £19 | £241 (similar: £6,461) | down 73.2% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£1.20Similar councils, per resident£19Per mile of road£241 (similar: £6,461)Changedown 73.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Environmental, safety and routine maintenanceDetails | −£167k | £-1.01 | £8.70 | £-203.00 (similar: £5,257) | — | | Per resident£-1.01Similar councils, per resident£8.70Per mile of road£-203.00 (similar: £5,257)Change— | | | | | | | Structural maintenance (resurfacing, bridges)Details | £365k | £2.21 | £5.45 | £444 (similar: £2,160) | down 19.8% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£2.21Similar councils, per resident£5.45Per mile of road£444 (similar: £2,160)Changedown 19.8% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Winter service (gritting)Details | £686k | £4.14 | £1.10 | £835 (similar: £550) | up 3.2% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£4.14Similar councils, per resident£1.10Per mile of road£835 (similar: £550)Changeup 3.2% on 2024-25 | | | | | | | Street lighting (including energy)Details | £1.0m | £6.24 | £5.63 | £1,257 (similar: £2,622) | up 4.8% on 2024-25 | | Per resident£6.24Similar councils, per resident£5.63Per mile of road£1,257 (similar: £2,622)Changeup 4.8% 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 | £1,071 | £712 | | Median£712 | | | | Adult social careDetails | £476 | £483 | | Median£483 | | | | Children's social careDetails | £248 | £309 | | Median£309 | | | | Environment and regulationDetails | £157 | £110 | | Median£110 | | | | Running the councilDetails | £59 | £51 | | Median£51 | | | | Public healthDetails | £43 | £65 | | Median£65 | | | | Housing (not council homes)Details | £35 | £33 | | Median£33 | | | | Parks, leisure, libraries and cultureDetails | £30 | £38 | | Median£38 | | | | Roads and transportDetails | £25 | £49 | | Median£49 | | | | Planning and developmentDetails | £14 | £22 | | Median£22 | | | - West Berkshire spent **39.6%** of its gross service spending on its own staff in 2025-26 (median for unitary councils in England: 31.1%); the rest went on suppliers, contractors, grants, benefits and other running costs. ## What this data does and doesn't show - These are each body's own figures, as reported to government in its revenue outturn return. Net spending is after the fees, charges and grants a service brings in. - Your bill is for 2026-27; it is shared out using the latest published return, which covers an earlier year. The mix of spending changes little from one year to the next, but it does change. - Council tax is not ring-fenced: this shows your bill in proportion to spending, not what your money bought. Where a precept is set aside for adult social care, it is shown against adult social care. - No council publishes spending at street or property level, so nothing here says what was spent near you. - Sub-service lines are the ones the national returns itemise. Councils describe their own budgets differently; their budget books and statements of accounts have more detail. ## Sources - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England: Table 10, local authority level data](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a02eeeccd2e0e8b5b20b449/Table_10_2026-27.ods), published 25 March 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. - Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, [Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: Revenue Outturn multi-year data set](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ab26ffffe72ed1e2b02ee74/Revenue_Outturn_time_series_data_v4.csv), published 28 September 2026. Open Government Licence v3.0. How the split is worked out, and how the three nations' returns are matched to one list of services, is on the [methodology page](/methodology/#council-spending). The dataset is on the [data page](/data/#council-spending). See also [council tax in West Berkshire](/council-tax/england/west-berkshire/) and [everything else about West Berkshire](/your-area/west-berkshire/). ## Common questions What does council tax pay for in West Berkshire? A Band D bill of £2,505.37 is split between West Berkshire, West Berkshire: adult social care precept, this year's increase, Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable, Berkshire Combined Fire and Rescue Authority, Parish and town councils (average for the area). In proportion to spending, the largest line is adult social care, £741.96.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 West Berkshire UA](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/parking/west-berkshire-ua/) - [Back to West Berkshire: your area](https://whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk/your-area/west-berkshire/) - [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.