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Plymouth · England

Public spending

Plymouth council area. Every figure carries its own date.

Plymouth

What this council spent, how it changed and how it compares with councils with similar responsibilities and population sizes.

Plymouth City Council only. This covers the council’s own services. It is not all public spending in the area.

£515.13 million in 2025–26

Council service spending after service income. These are recorded amounts spent, rather than plans for future spending.

For each resident£1,898

Cash spending · 2025–26

For each resident, allowing for inflation£1,837

2024–25 prices · 2025–26

This year’s return can still be revised.

“Per resident” spreads the total across everyone who lives here. It is not a payment to each person.

Has spending kept up with prices and population?

Allowing for inflation makes spending in different years easier to compare. Looking per resident also allows for a changing population.

Total council service spending · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £1,454.21 per person in 2017/2018; £1,836.76 per person in 2025/2026. 26.3% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Total council service spending · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/20181,454.21
2018/20191,457.5
2019/20201,435.23
2020/20211,488.22
2021/20221,566.29
2022/20231,489.94
2023/20241,536.37
2024/20251,699.58
2025/20261,836.76
Source →
See cash spending and total spending

Total council service spending · total spending, cash

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ million · cash prices, before allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £297.49 million in 2017/2018; £515.13 million in 2025/2026. 73.2% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Total council service spending · total spending, cash — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ million
2017/2018297.49
2018/2019305.32
2019/2020307.85
2020/2021335.3
2021/2022354.3
2022/2023364.47
2023/2024400.1
2024/2025462.12
2025/2026515.13
Source →

Total council service spending · total spending, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ million · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £385.79 million in 2017/2018; £498.42 million in 2025/2026. 29.2% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Total council service spending · total spending, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ million
2017/2018385.79
2018/2019387.24
2019/2020380.39
2020/2021394.13
2021/2022414.7
2022/2023398.67
2023/2024415.8
2024/2025462.12
2025/2026498.42
Source →

Total council service spending · spending per resident, cash

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · cash prices, before allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £1,121.34 per person in 2017/2018; £1,898.32 per person in 2025/2026. 69.3% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Total council service spending · spending per resident, cash — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/20181,121.34
2018/20191,149.17
2019/20201,161.52
2020/20211,266.08
2021/20221,338.17
2022/20231,362.12
2023/20241,478.34
2024/20251,699.58
2025/20261,898.32
Source →
All annual figures and what they include
Council spending · Plymouth · full reviewed history
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–18297.485385.794£1,121£1,454
2018–19305.322387.242£1,149£1,457
2019–20307.85380.394£1,162£1,435
2020–21335.295394.126£1,266£1,488
2021–22354.304414.704£1,338£1,566
2022–23364.469398.67£1,362£1,490
2023–24400.1415.804£1,478£1,536
2024–25462.122462.122£1,700£1,700
2025–26515.13498.424£1,898£1,837

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Outside this measure: Separate capital-account expenditure; Separate housing revenue account; Central-government and NHS spending; Services supplied by another council or separate authority.

Each financial year runs from April to March. Per-resident amounts use the population estimate for the year in which that financial year starts, matched to the council’s area code. Missing populations remain gaps. Inflation is adjusted using a broad measure of prices across the economy; it does not measure each service’s particular costs.

Changes in council boundaries, responsibilities, schools or accounting can affect the figures. A rise or fall alone does not show a change in service quality.

Sources and calculations →

How does it compare with similar councils?

The comparison uses councils in England with the same broad responsibilities, choosing up to three closest in population size. They may face different needs and costs.

Same financial year: 2025–26 · spending per resident
Council or comparison groupAt 2024–25 pricesCash prices
Plymouth (this council)£1,837£1,898
Stoke-on-Trent£1,912£1,976
Kingston upon Hull£1,941£2,006
Derby£1,811£1,871
England councils with the same broad responsibilitiesNot availableNot available

The wider same-type figure is withheld where a council’s spending or population is missing. No partial-group average has been substituted.

How the comparison works

Same country and broad council responsibilities, closest population size. Not adjusted for need, deprivation, income, commuter demand or service outcomes.

Fixed cohort of current councils of this type; complete observations only. This is not all council spending in the country.

The wider comparison covers 62 current councils of the same type. Spending and populations are added before dividing; individual council rates are not averaged.

The selected councils use the latest year with matching spending and population for this council. Every comparison row uses that same year. This is not a ranking of value for money or a measure of whether funding is fair.

Where does the council money go?

Open a service to see its history. The headings follow the council returns, so responsibilities and accounting differ between countries.

Education · £175.11 million · 2025–26

Education · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £440.95 per person in 2017/2018; £624.36 per person in 2025/2026. 41.6% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Education · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/2018440.95
2018/2019423.4
2019/2020400.46
2020/2021392.51
2021/2022428.02
2022/2023429.62
2023/2024453.7
2024/2025521.66
2025/2026624.36
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Education · Plymouth
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1890.204116.981£340£441
2018–1988.695112.492£334£423
2019–2085.897106.138£324£400
2020–2188.431103.947£334£393
2021–2296.82113.325£366£428
2022–23105.094114.956£393£430
2023–24118.152122.79£437£454
2024–25141.842141.842£522£522
2025–26175.107169.428£645£624
Highways and transport · £12.38 million · 2025–26

Highways and transport · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £61.05 per person in 2017/2018; £44.13 per person in 2025/2026. 27.7% lower between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Highways and transport · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/201861.05
2018/201964.23
2019/202079.95
2020/202160.4
2021/202270.09
2022/202350.96
2023/202446.69
2024/202547.29
2025/202644.13
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Highways and transport · Plymouth
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1812.48916.196£47£61
2018–1913.45517.065£51£64
2019–2017.14921.19£65£80
2020–2113.60815.996£51£60
2021–2215.85518.558£60£70
2022–2312.46713.637£47£51
2023–2412.1612.637£45£47
2024–2512.85912.859£47£47
2025–2612.37711.976£46£44
Children’s social care · £100.5 million · 2025–26

Children’s social care · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £268.2 per person in 2017/2018; £358.33 per person in 2025/2026. 33.6% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Children’s social care · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/2018268.2
2018/2019266.75
2019/2020263.21
2020/2021261.33
2021/2022299.34
2022/2023313.88
2023/2024320.26
2024/2025340.94
2025/2026358.33
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Children’s social care · Plymouth
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1854.86671.153£207£268
2018–1955.87970.872£210£267
2019–2056.45869.762£213£263
2020–2158.87869.209£222£261
2021–2267.71279.255£256£299
2022–2376.78183.986£287£314
2023–2483.40186.675£308£320
2024–2592.70492.704£341£341
2025–26100.49697.237£370£358
Adult social care · £130.4 million · 2025–26

Adult social care · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £359.73 per person in 2017/2018; £464.96 per person in 2025/2026. 29.3% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Adult social care · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/2018359.73
2018/2019382.88
2019/2020391.63
2020/2021436.72
2021/2022424.53
2022/2023399.13
2023/2024412.88
2024/2025446.29
2025/2026464.96
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Adult social care · Plymouth
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1873.58995.434£277£360
2018–1980.208101.728£302£383
2019–2084.004103.799£317£392
2020–2198.393115.657£372£437
2021–2296.031112.402£363£425
2022–2397.636106.798£365£399
2023–24107.522111.742£397£413
2024–25121.348121.348£446£446
2025–26130.402126.173£481£465
Public health · £22.8 million · 2025–26

Public health · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £76.85 per person in 2017/2018; £81.29 per person in 2025/2026. 5.8% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Public health · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/201876.85
2018/201975.24
2019/202068.75
2020/202179.87
2021/2022102.34
2022/202371.65
2023/202475.19
2024/202580.77
2025/202681.29
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Public health · Plymouth
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1815.72220.389£59£77
2018–1915.76119.99£59£75
2019–2014.74718.222£56£69
2020–2117.99521.152£68£80
2021–2223.14927.095£87£102
2022–2317.52819.173£66£72
2023–2419.5820.349£72£75
2024–2521.96321.963£81£81
2025–2622.79822.059£84£81
Housing services outside the housing revenue account · £14.52 million · 2025–26

Housing services outside the housing revenue account · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £26.73 per person in 2017/2018; £51.78 per person in 2025/2026. 93.7% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Housing services outside the housing revenue account · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/201826.73
2018/201927.95
2019/202031.46
2020/202129.88
2021/202234.22
2022/202342.62
2023/202451.96
2024/202548.4
2025/202651.78
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Housing services outside the housing revenue account · Plymouth
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–185.4687.091£21£27
2018–195.8557.426£22£28
2019–206.7498.339£25£31
2020–216.7337.914£25£30
2021–227.749.059£29£34
2022–2310.42511.403£39£43
2023–2413.53214.063£50£52
2024–2513.16113.161£48£48
2025–2614.52114.05£54£52
Culture and leisure · £18.5 million · 2025–26

Culture and leisure · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £44.92 per person in 2017/2018; £65.96 per person in 2025/2026. 46.8% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Culture and leisure · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/201844.92
2018/201960.27
2019/202062.38
2020/202170.25
2021/202275.81
2022/202366.62
2023/202465.3
2024/202563.82
2025/202665.96
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Culture and leisure · Plymouth
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–189.1911.918£35£45
2018–1912.62616.014£48£60
2019–2013.38116.534£50£62
2020–2115.82718.604£60£70
2021–2217.14920.072£65£76
2022–2316.29717.826£61£67
2023–2417.00617.674£63£65
2024–2517.35417.354£64£64
2025–2618.49917.899£68£66
Environment · £24.94 million · 2025–26

Environment · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £129.33 per person in 2017/2018; £88.94 per person in 2025/2026. 31.2% lower between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Environment · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/2018129.33
2018/2019116.64
2019/2020103.76
2020/2021113.36
2021/2022101.48
2022/202397.15
2023/202487.62
2024/202592.95
2025/202688.94
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Environment · Plymouth
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1826.45634.31£100£129
2018–1924.43430.99£92£117
2019–2022.25527.499£84£104
2020–2125.5430.021£96£113
2021–2222.95526.868£87£101
2022–2323.76525.995£89£97
2023–2422.81823.714£84£88
2024–2525.27425.274£93£93
2025–2624.94324.134£92£89
Planning and development · £-2.99 million · 2025–26

Planning and development · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £-5.08 per person in 2017/2018; £-10.67 per person in 2025/2026.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Planning and development · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/2018-5.08
2018/2019-11.53
2019/20206.85
2020/202129.53
2021/20227.94
2022/2023-17.75
2023/2024-9.92
2024/2025-0.83
2025/2026-10.67
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Planning and development · Plymouth
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–18-1.039-1.347£-4£-5
2018–19-2.415-3.063£-9£-12
2019–201.471.816£6£7
2020–216.6537.82£25£30
2021–221.7972.103£7£8
2022–23-4.341-4.748£-16£-18
2023–24-2.584-2.685£-10£-10
2024–25-0.227-0.227£-1£-1
2025–26-2.992-2.895£-11£-11
Police · £0 million · 2025–26

Police · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £0 per person in 2017/2018; £0 per person in 2025/2026. No change between these two observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Police · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/20180
2018/20190
2019/20200
2020/20210
2021/20220
2022/20230
2023/20240
2024/20250
2025/20260
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Police · Plymouth
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1800£0£0
2018–1900£0£0
2019–2000£0£0
2020–2100£0£0
2021–2200£0£0
2022–2300£0£0
2023–2400£0£0
2024–2500£0£0
2025–2600£0£0
Fire and rescue · £0 million · 2025–26

Fire and rescue · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £0 per person in 2017/2018; £0 per person in 2025/2026. No change between these two observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Fire and rescue · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/20180
2018/20190
2019/20200
2020/20210
2021/20220
2022/20230
2023/20240
2024/20250
2025/20260
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Fire and rescue · Plymouth
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1800£0£0
2018–1900£0£0
2019–2000£0£0
2020–2100£0£0
2021–2200£0£0
2022–2300£0£0
2023–2400£0£0
2024–2500£0£0
2025–2600£0£0
Central services · £18.98 million · 2025–26

Central services · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £51.06 per person in 2017/2018; £67.67 per person in 2025/2026. 32.5% higher between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Central services · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/201851.06
2018/201951.67
2019/202026.76
2020/202114.37
2021/202222.53
2022/202336.04
2023/202432.69
2024/202558.27
2025/202667.67
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Central services · Plymouth
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1810.44513.546£39£51
2018–1910.82513.729£41£52
2019–205.747.093£22£27
2020–213.2373.805£12£14
2021–225.0965.965£19£23
2022–238.8179.644£33£36
2023–248.5138.847£31£33
2024–2515.84415.844£58£58
2025–2618.97918.364£70£68
Other services · £0 million · 2025–26

Other services · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Plymouth City Council only · £ per resident · 2024–25 prices, allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/2018 to 2025/2026. This reviewed record covers fewer than 30 years, so the chart opens on all of it.

Shown on this chart: £0.46 per person in 2017/2018; £0 per person in 2025/2026. 100% lower between these observations.

The line joins consecutive published observations.

Data table and workings

Net current service expenditure reported in the Revenue Outturn RS summary. Includes specific-grant-funded services. It is not a council budget, grant allocation, or all public spending in the area.

Cash and inflation-adjusted figures are both provided. This is council spending, not all public spending in the area.

Councils have different duties; education spending also changes when schools become academies.

The table retains the full reviewed history when the chart is shortened. Preset ranges end at this measure’s latest published period. Yearly windows count published annual periods; monthly windows count months. Gaps are never filled with estimates.

Other services · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Plymouth City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/20180.46
2018/20190
2019/20200
2020/20210
2021/20220
2022/20230
2023/20240
2024/20250
2025/20260
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Other services · Plymouth
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–180.0950.123£0£0
2018–1900£0£0
2019–2000£0£0
2020–2100£0£0
2021–2200£0£0
2022–2300£0£0
2023–2400£0£0
2024–2500£0£0
2025–2600£0£0

A zero may mean this council does not provide that service. A negative net amount can occur when service income exceeds spending. A missing figure means no usable value was reported.

What can be done with these figures?

Check which services account for a change, compare it with local needs, and ask what residents received for the money. Look for outcomes such as care access, school places or the condition of roads, alongside the amount spent.

See the local issues and proposed actions →
Coverage and limits

Separate district/county tiers, police, fire, transport authorities and national public services are not combined. No all-public-spending council-area total is claimed.

2024–25 and 2025–26 returns remain revisable. Unsubmitted returns are gaps, never zero. Earlier years use the final outturn series.

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