Council budget

About the budget

We aim to deliver the best possible services within the resources available and, as a public body spending taxpayers' money, we work hard to ensure that the Council gets value for money from its spending. 

In 2025-26 we propose to spend a total of £64.318m on providing day to day services for the local community. This spending will be funded by £54.199m of income raised through grants, rents, interest, fees, charges and other sources resulting in a council tax requirement of £10.119m.

The budget that has been set requires an increase in the council tax level of £6.93 for a Band D Property, which is equivalent to a 2.99% increase. 

The Council Tax for West Lancashire Borough Council for the average Band D property in 2025-26 will be £238.58 per year or £4.59 a week.

Around 10.2% of the Council Tax comes to the Borough Council.  The total council tax includes charges from Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and Lancashire Constabulary.  The Council Tax for some areas will also include a parish Council precept.

The bills for 'average' Band D properties (excluding parish council precepts) are set out on our rates and banding page.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS AT AUDIT

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the unaudited statement of accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025 have been published on the Council’s website. The statement of accounts are unaudited and may be subject to change.


NOTICE IS GIVEN that from 12 August 2025 to 22 September 2025, the accounts for the year ended 31st March 2025 may be inspected on the Council’s website. On reasonable notice, interested persons may request access to all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts, except as provided for in Section 26(4) to 26(6) of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 in relation to commercially confidential and personal information. Application should be made initially at the email address accountancy@westlancs.gov.uk  (this email account will be monitored between 10.00am and 4.00pm on working days) and details will be required of the records and documents that persons wish to inspect.


The Council’s external auditor is Grant Thornton LLP, St Peter’s Square, 1 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 4PB. During the inspection period, local electors have the following rights under the 2014 Act:


• to be given the opportunity to question the auditor about the accounting records (or have a representative do so for you) (section 26 of the 2014 Act)


• to make an objection to the auditor which concerns a matter in respect of which the auditor could make a public interest report or could apply for a declaration that an item of account is unlawful (section 27 of the 2014 Act)

Note that section 27 requires written notice of a proposed objection and the grounds on which it is being made to be sent to the auditor and copied to the Council. Written notices must comply with the requirements of regulation 17 of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/234/contents/made


James Pierce
Director of Finance and Corporate Resources (S151 Officer)
West Lancashire Borough Council
52 Derby Street
Ormskirk
L39 2DF
11 August 2025

Notice of Conclusion of Audit 

Notice is hereby given under Regulation 16 of the Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2015 that the Auditor has concluded their audit and that the Statement of Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2024 has been published.

James Pierce

Head of Finance and Section 151 Officer

West Lancashire Borough Council

52 Derby Street

Ormskirk

L39 2DF

19 August 2025

 

Certificate of Audit 2023-24

 

Notice of Inspection of Accounts

Statement of Accounts

The Statement of Accounts shows our financial performance and financial position for the year. These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the regulations that govern our financial affairs and demonstrate the council's stewardship of public funds.

Anti-Fraud and Corruption

We are committed to protecting public money and have set out an Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy that explains how we will do this.

Spending 

We are committed to transparency in all our dealings, including how and where taxpayers’ money is spent.

Budget 

We are committed to transparency, please see tabs on the attached spreadsheet for various assets.

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