Council budgets and spending

About our budget

Every year, Bristol City Council spends in excess of £300 million (net) on the day-to-day cost of local services. This is funded partly through government grants - which include the city's share of the National Non-Domestic Rate (business rate) - and partly through the Council Tax paid by households in the city.

The city council is determined to deliver value-for-money to its residents and to focus its limited resources on delivering the city's top priorities and meeting its greatest areas of need.

To do this as effectively as possible, the council plans ahead - and now publishes a three year medium-term financial plan which sets out its objectives for the coming years.

Once the council has detailed information about the level of government grant, it seeks to consult on the specific budget for the year ahead, including the likely level of council tax that households will pay. This consultation usually takes place in January/February and a report on the budget is usually considered by the city council's Cabinet after that consultation and debated by the full council in February/March.

A link will appear here to any consultation which is in progress.

The links on the left of this page will take you to various background documents published by the council relating to its budgets and actual expenditure in recent years. These include:

• Annual accounts - Statement of accounts and reports from the council's external auditors; summary of accounts
• Council budgets - Revenue and capital budgets and medium term financial plan information
• Financial information - Other financial infomation published by the council including booklets sent to council tax and business rate payers and reports comparing spending forecasts with budget during the year.

Internal Audit - link to information about the responsibilities, aims and contact details relating to the internal audit section.

Contact Information

Budgets and Technical Section
Bristol City Council
Room 313, The Council House
College Green
Bristol, BS1 5TR

Telephone: 0117 922 2440
Fax: 01179 222 821
Textphone: 0117 357 4444
E-mail: budgets.and.accounting@bristol.gov.uk