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 2024-25 we propose to spend a total of £70.888m on providing day to day services for the local community. This spending will be funded by £62.003m of income raised through grants, rents, interest, fees, charges and other sources resulting in a council tax requirement of £8.885m.

The budget that has been set requires an increase in the council tax level of £6.73 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 2024-25 will be £231.65 per year or £4.45 a week.

Around 10.4% 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.

Financial Accounts 2023 to 2024

Notice: Delays to the publication of draft accounts and the public inspection period for year ended 31 March 2024

Each financial year West Lancashire Borough Council is required to produce and publish a draft set of accounts, allow public inspection of the draft accounts, have the draft accounts audited and to subsequently publish the final audited set of accounts.

The deadlines set under regulation for the accounts prepared for the 2023-24 financial year are:

  • publish draft set of accounts one day prior to the start of public inspection
  • public inspection to start no later than 1 June 2024 for a period of 30 working days
  • completion of audit and publication of audited accounts by 30 September 2024

Public inspection for 2023/24 has been delayed whilst we finalise our draft accounts. The production of our accounts is delayed due to various factors. We continue to engage with our external auditors and will announce when the accounts are open for inspection through all the standard channels in due course.

Completion of the audit and the publication of audited accounts should be unaffected by this delay.

Relevant legislation

  1. Section 26 of the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014, at each audit of the accounts, any persons interested have a right to inspect the accounting records for the financial year to which the audit relates and all books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers, receipts and other documents relating to those records.
  1. Regulations 14 and 15 of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (as amended by The Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2022) require that this right (and associated rights) are exercisable over a single period of 30 working days, commencing no later than 1 June 2024.
  1. Regulation 10 of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 (as amended by The Accounts and Audit (Amendment) Regulations 2022), requires the publication of audited accounts by 30 September 2024.

Notice of Conclusion of Audit

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.

Privacy Notice