Council Tax budget information

We spend over £1 billion per year providing services to local residents. In 2026-27, over a quarter of this (over £270m) will be funded through Council Tax paid by residents of the borough; a further £70m will be funded through business rates paid by companies. Elements of the Council Tax you pay will also fund services provided by Cheshire Fire Authority, Cheshire Police (through the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire) and local parish and town councils.

The Council’s vision to 2028 is set out in the Council Plan called ‘Play Your Part towards a Stronger Future’. More information on the Council Plan can be found on our four year plan web page.

The following table shows the 2026-27 budget that has been developed to deliver the priorities set out in the Council Plan.

	2026-27			2025-26
	Spend (£000s)	Income (£000s)	Net spend (£000s)	Net spend (£000s)
Adult social care and health	317,382	-120,565	196,817	196,368
Children and families	432,146	-319,285	112,861	110,167
Place and growth	131,631	-61,211	70,420	65,623
Housing revenue account	29,106	-29,106	0	0
Corporate services	72,400	-44,533	27,867	30,758
Housing benefits	62,322	-62,322	0	0
Capital financing	24,109	-885	23,224	22,540
Contingencies	8,884	0	8,884	11,271
Council budget	1,077,980	-637,907	440,073	436,727
Use of reserves	0	-2,949	-2,949	-2,854
Corporate grants	0	-22,695	-22,695	-85,850
Revenue support grant	0	-61,905	-61,905	-5,166
Business rates	0	-69,713	-69,713	-76,225
Collection fund (surplus)/deficit	0	-8,408	-8,408	-6,184
Council Tax requirement	1,077,980	-803,577	274,403	260,448
Parish precepts	5,948	0	5,948	5,518
Council Tax (including precepts)	1,083,928	-803,577	280,351	265,966