Local authorities spent £2.9billion on TA in 2025/26

This was 3% more than the expenditure in 2024/25 and an 88% increase over 2020/21, when the cost was £1.56billion.  According to the Local Government Association, net spending after subsidies from central government increased by 5.5% to £1.39billion.  Carl Cashman of the LGA said: "The way that councils are funded and reimbursed by central government is not working, and it’s impacting the entire country due to the knock-on effect on budgets and all other services.”