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Public spending: Southampton

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

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

£531.6 million in 2025–26

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

For each resident£2,051

Cash spending · 2025–26

For each resident, allowing for inflation£1,984

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

Southampton 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: £1,764.68 per person in 2017/2018; £1,984.2 per person in 2025/2026. 12.4% 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 — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/20181,764.68
2018/20191,819.27
2019/20201,886.69
2020/20211,966.63
2021/20222,092.9
2022/20232,015.73
2023/20241,915.22
2024/20252,143.63
2025/20261,984.2
Source →
See cash spending and total spending

Total council service spending · total spending, cash

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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: £340.86 million in 2017/2018; £531.6 million in 2025/2026. 56% 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 — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ million
2017/2018340.86
2018/2019359.76
2019/2020380.85
2020/2021416.06
2021/2022442.86
2022/2023466.14
2023/2024476.6
2024/2025558.64
2025/2026531.6
Source →

Total council service spending · total spending, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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: £442.04 million in 2017/2018; £514.36 million in 2025/2026. 16.4% 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 — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ million
2017/2018442.04
2018/2019456.28
2019/2020470.59
2020/2021489.06
2021/2022518.35
2022/2023509.88
2023/2024495.31
2024/2025558.64
2025/2026514.36
Source →

Total council service spending · spending per resident, cash

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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: £1,360.74 per person in 2017/2018; £2,050.7 per person in 2025/2026. 50.7% 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.

Total council service spending · spending per resident, cash — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/20181,360.74
2018/20191,434.41
2019/20201,526.88
2020/20211,673.07
2021/20221,788.08
2022/20231,842.8
2023/20241,842.89
2024/20252,143.63
2025/20262,050.7
Source →
All annual figures and what they include
Council spending · Southampton · full reviewed history
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–18340.855442.039£1,361£1,765
2018–19359.755456.279£1,434£1,819
2019–20380.847470.593£1,527£1,887
2020–21416.057489.059£1,673£1,967
2021–22442.858518.354£1,788£2,093
2022–23466.135509.876£1,843£2,016
2023–24476.602495.309£1,843£1,915
2024–25558.639558.639£2,144£2,144
2025–26531.603514.363£2,051£1,984

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
Southampton (this council)£1,984£2,051
Plymouth£1,837£1,898
Stoke-on-Trent£1,912£1,976
Kingston upon Hull£1,941£2,006
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 · £240.67 million · 2025–26

Education · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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: £808.56 per person in 2017/2018; £898.3 per person in 2025/2026. 11.1% 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 — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/2018808.56
2018/2019795.07
2019/2020823.94
2020/2021816.72
2021/2022855.77
2022/2023834.4
2023/2024829.84
2024/2025912.3
2025/2026898.3
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Education · Southampton
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–18156.177202.539£623£809
2018–19157.223199.407£627£795
2019–20166.32205.513£667£824
2020–21172.785203.102£695£817
2021–22181.08211.949£731£856
2022–23192.954211.06£763£834
2023–24206.505214.611£798£830
2024–25237.75237.75£912£912
2025–26240.67232.865£928£898
Highways and transport · £4.17 million · 2025–26

Highways and transport · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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: £21.32 per person in 2017/2018; £15.55 per person in 2025/2026. 27% 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 — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/201821.32
2018/201928.01
2019/202032.6
2020/202165.36
2021/202233.8
2022/202331.94
2023/202426.5
2024/202522.94
2025/202615.55
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Highways and transport · Southampton
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–184.1185.34£16£21
2018–195.5387.024£22£28
2019–206.5818.132£26£33
2020–2113.82716.253£56£65
2021–227.1528.371£29£34
2022–237.3868.079£29£32
2023–246.5956.854£26£27
2024–255.9775.977£23£23
2025–264.1674.032£16£16
Children’s social care · £76.11 million · 2025–26

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

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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: £219.97 per person in 2017/2018; £284.09 per person in 2025/2026. 29.1% 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 — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/2018219.97
2018/2019229.44
2019/2020270.53
2020/2021273.32
2021/2022312.3
2022/2023320.05
2023/2024288.97
2024/2025278.75
2025/2026284.09
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Children’s social care · Southampton
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1842.48955.102£170£220
2018–1945.37157.544£181£229
2019–2054.6167.479£219£271
2020–2157.82467.97£233£273
2021–2266.08277.347£267£312
2022–2374.01180.956£293£320
2023–2471.91174.734£278£289
2024–2572.64372.643£279£279
2025–2676.11273.644£294£284
Adult social care · £117.46 million · 2025–26

Adult social care · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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: £342.94 per person in 2017/2018; £438.43 per person in 2025/2026. 27.8% 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.

Adult social care · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/2018342.94
2018/2019396.06
2019/2020397.21
2020/2021443.57
2021/2022482.69
2022/2023464.88
2023/2024447.96
2024/2025447.4
2025/2026438.43
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Adult social care · Southampton
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1866.2485.904£264£343
2018–1978.31999.332£312£396
2019–2080.18199.075£321£397
2020–2193.841110.306£377£444
2021–22102.138119.55£412£483
2022–23107.502117.59£425£465
2023–24111.474115.85£431£448
2024–25116.594116.594£447£447
2025–26117.464113.655£453£438
Public health · £19.72 million · 2025–26

Public health · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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: £91.49 per person in 2017/2018; £73.62 per person in 2025/2026. 19.5% 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.

Public health · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/201891.49
2018/201985.28
2019/202077.46
2020/202189.54
2021/2022113.15
2022/202388.43
2023/202476.26
2024/202569.86
2025/202673.62
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Public health · Southampton
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1817.67222.918£71£91
2018–1916.86321.387£67£85
2019–2015.63719.322£63£77
2020–2118.94322.267£76£90
2021–2223.94328.025£97£113
2022–2320.44922.368£81£88
2023–2418.97819.723£73£76
2024–2518.20618.206£70£70
2025–2619.72419.084£76£74
Housing services outside the housing revenue account · £14.37 million · 2025–26

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

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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: £46.03 per person in 2017/2018; £53.63 per person in 2025/2026. 16.5% 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.

Housing services outside the housing revenue account · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/201846.03
2018/201944.36
2019/202044.79
2020/202147.43
2021/202246.41
2022/202345.95
2023/202443.35
2024/202554.79
2025/202653.63
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Housing services outside the housing revenue account · Southampton
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–188.89111.53£35£46
2018–198.77211.126£35£44
2019–209.04111.171£36£45
2020–2110.03511.796£40£47
2021–229.8211.494£40£46
2022–2310.62511.622£42£46
2023–2410.78811.211£42£43
2024–2514.27914.279£55£55
2025–2614.36813.902£55£54
Culture and leisure · £14.2 million · 2025–26

Culture and leisure · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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: £42.96 per person in 2017/2018; £52.99 per person in 2025/2026. 23.3% 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.

Culture and leisure · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/201842.96
2018/201945.64
2019/202045.31
2020/202157.05
2021/202261.08
2022/202361.62
2023/202443.87
2024/202553.13
2025/202652.99
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Culture and leisure · Southampton
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–188.29810.761£33£43
2018–199.02611.448£36£46
2019–209.14711.302£37£45
2020–2112.06914.187£49£57
2021–2212.92515.128£52£61
2022–2314.2515.587£56£62
2023–2410.91711.346£42£44
2024–2513.84513.845£53£53
2025–2614.19713.737£55£53
Environment · £24.79 million · 2025–26

Environment · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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: £83.52 per person in 2017/2018; £92.53 per person in 2025/2026. 10.8% 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.

Environment · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/201883.52
2018/201995.09
2019/202093.52
2020/202196
2021/202293.25
2022/2023109.85
2023/2024105.58
2024/202590.14
2025/202692.53
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Environment · Southampton
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1816.13320.922£64£84
2018–1918.80323.848£75£95
2019–2018.87823.327£76£94
2020–2120.3123.874£82£96
2021–2219.73223.096£80£93
2022–2325.40227.786£100£110
2023–2426.27427.305£102£106
2024–2523.49123.491£90£90
2025–2624.79123.987£96£93
Planning and development · £9.58 million · 2025–26

Planning and development · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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: £17.45 per person in 2017/2018; £35.74 per person in 2025/2026. 104.8% 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.

Planning and development · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/201817.45
2018/201919.01
2019/202020.88
2020/202121.89
2021/202270.98
2022/202348.39
2023/202436.21
2024/202538.74
2025/202635.74
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Planning and development · Southampton
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–183.3714.372£13£17
2018–193.7594.768£15£19
2019–204.2155.208£17£21
2020–214.6315.444£19£22
2021–2215.01917.579£61£71
2022–2311.18912.239£44£48
2023–249.019.364£35£36
2024–2510.09510.095£39£39
2025–269.5759.264£37£36
Police · £0 million · 2025–26

Police · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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 — Southampton 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 · Southampton
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

Southampton 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 — Southampton 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 · Southampton
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 · £10.54 million · 2025–26

Central services · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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: £90.43 per person in 2017/2018; £39.32 per person in 2025/2026. 56.5% 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.

Central services · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/201890.43
2018/201981.32
2019/202080.44
2020/202155.74
2021/202223.47
2022/202310.24
2023/202416.68
2024/202555.38
2025/202639.32
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Central services · Southampton
Financial yearTotal cash (£ million)Total at 2024–25 prices (£ million)Cash per residentPer resident at 2024–25 prices
2017–1817.46622.651£70£90
2018–1916.08120.396£64£81
2019–2016.23720.063£65£80
2020–2111.79213.861£47£56
2021–224.9675.814£20£23
2022–232.3672.589£9£10
2023–244.154.313£16£17
2024–2514.43214.432£55£55
2025–2610.53510.193£41£39
Other services · £0 million · 2025–26

Other services · spending per resident, allowing for inflation

2017/2018 to 2025/2026

Southampton 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.

Other services · spending per resident, allowing for inflation — Southampton City Council only: full reviewed history
Period£ per person
2017/20180
2018/20190
2019/20200
2020/20210
2021/20220
2022/20230
2023/20240
2024/2025120.21
2025/20260
Source →
Cash and inflation-adjusted figures
Other services · Southampton
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
2024–2531.32731.327£120£120
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.

Explore all public spending across countries and regions →