Portsmouth’s council spending needs to be understood alongside its responsibilities

The council’s net revenue expenditure was £407.6 million in 2025/26 under the published outturn definition. Cash totals do not show the quality of services or allow for inflation.

Portsmouth Civic Offices, a 1970s building clad in bronze-tinted glass, lit by low winter sun — Portsmouth Civic Offices, Guildhall Square. Photo: Hassocks5489, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Net revenue expenditure: Portsmouth and Southampton

Net revenue expenditure

2017/18 to 2025/26

Portsmouth council area · Cash prices, before allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/18 to 2025/26.

Shown on this chart: From 2017/18 to 2025/26, net revenue expenditure rose by 60.7% in Portsmouth council area and rose by 58.3% in Southampton.

Both places compared over 2017/18 to 2025/26, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth council area; Southampton.

Actual values

Portsmouth council areaSouthampton

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

Financial years 2017/18–2025/26, in cash prices. Expenditure is not a measure of service quality or need. Portsmouth and Southampton are unitary councils; Chichester district shares responsibilities with West Sussex County Council, so a direct council-total comparison would omit county services. No comparable England council total is shown.

Official source and methods ↗

See the full comparison data

Net revenue expenditure · £
Period	Portsmouth	Southampton
2017/2018	253,553,000	339,904,000
2018/2019	262,556,000	355,439,000
2019/2020	274,501,000	382,754,000
2020/2021	298,063,000	407,071,000
2021/2022	334,702,000	443,083,000
2022/2023	329,619,000	469,217,000
2023/2024	331,377,000	484,155,000
2024/2025	382,694,000	512,747,000
2025/2026	407,559,000	538,043,000

Explore public spending and service responsibilities → · Who makes decisions? →

Figures and sources

More local evidence

Forecast general reserves

£22,300,000

Portsmouth · 31 March 2027

This is a forecast for March 2027, not money freely available for any new scheme.

Why this matters and what could help →

A forecast in the February 2026 budget report, not an actual reserve balance. Depends on delivery of planned savings.

Show the workings

Portsmouth City Council: General reserves — February budget forecast ↗ · checked 2026-10-03
page 40, section 15, Forecast Balance row, 2026/27 column; Retained original SHA256 292ae12144e81d79ae3dc6709db7ea265476d288b7a6115f8f181d695ddeb87b; Preserved live record portsmouth.council.forecast-general-reserves

Budget savings planned

£3,000,000

Portsmouth · 2026/27

Planned savings must still be delivered and their service effects checked.

Why this matters and what could help →

Budgeted savings required to balance the 2026/27 budget; not a reported actual overspend or achieved saving.

Show the workings

Portsmouth City Council: Savings required in the annual budget ↗ · checked 2026-10-03
paragraph 1.5, page 2; section 9 table total, page 30; Retained original SHA256 292ae12144e81d79ae3dc6709db7ea265476d288b7a6115f8f181d695ddeb87b; Preserved live record portsmouth.council.budget-savings

Full evidence collections and historical data →

More council finances trends

Other earmarked reserves at financial year end

2017/18 to 2025/26

Portsmouth · Cash prices, before allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/18 to 2025/26.

Shown on this chart: From 2017/18 to 2025/26, other earmarked reserves at financial year end rose by 71.9% in Portsmouth and fell by 24.5% in Southampton.

Both places compared over 2017/18 to 2025/26, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; Southampton.

Actual values

PortsmouthSouthampton

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

MHCLG Revenue Outturn statutory definition, in cash terms. Original figures in £000 converted to GBP. Outturns are distinct from budget forecasts and the council’s own budget presentation; do not mix them in a trend. The 2025/26 release is an initial return and remains subject to revision.

Official source ↗

Full published comparison table

Other earmarked reserves at financial year end · GBP
Period	Southampton	Portsmouth
2017/18	82,035,000	146,822,000
2018/19	85,711,000	165,275,000
2019/20	92,635,000	177,203,000
2020/21	128,749,000	226,903,000
2021/22	94,770,000	192,202,000
2022/23	47,295,000	182,495,000
2023/24	35,528,000	205,860,000
2024/25	39,945,000	224,071,000
2025/26	61,922,000	252,444,000

Unallocated reserves at financial year end

2017/18 to 2025/26

Portsmouth · Cash prices, before allowing for inflation

Reviewed figures: 2017/18 to 2025/26.

Shown on this chart: From 2017/18 to 2025/26, unallocated reserves at financial year end rose by 29.6% in Portsmouth and rose by 9.5% in Southampton.

Both places compared over 2017/18 to 2025/26, using matching published dates.

Compared areas: Portsmouth; Southampton.

Actual values

PortsmouthSouthampton

Each line joins consecutive published observations for that place. Missing dates remain gaps.

Official source ↗

Full published comparison table

Unallocated reserves at financial year end · GBP
Period	Southampton	Portsmouth
2017/18	11,316,000	17,057,000
2018/19	10,066,000	22,996,000
2019/20	10,066,000	23,010,000
2020/21	10,066,000	23,373,000
2021/22	10,066,000	21,423,000
2022/23	10,066,000	21,516,000
2023/24	10,066,000	21,410,000
2024/25	12,000,000	22,002,000
2025/26	12,396,000	22,112,000

All the data in this topic

The retained source collection contains 33 records for this topic, including comparison areas and older releases. Each record keeps its own period and source date. Current findings above may use newer releases; a later page update does not refresh every record.

Browse 27 measures and their sources

Share of service budget on adult and children's social care

Share of service budget on adult and children's social care · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth 2025/26 service budgets	~60p in every £1	Share of council service spending taken by adult and children's social care. Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth City Council budget reports ↗Source retrieved 2026-09-23

General fund working balance

General fund working balance · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth 2026/27 forecast	£22.3m	Usable general-fund reserves against the minimum the council must hold. Portsmouth City Council. Portsmouth City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-09-23

Local government reorganisation status

Local government reorganisation status · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth 7 Sept 2026 · programme under government review	Decision withdrawn	Status of the government-directed merger that would have abolished the city council. Portsmouth and neighbouring authorities. MHCLG ↗Source retrieved 2026-09-23

Band D council tax including police and fire

Band D council tax including police and fire · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth 2026/27	£2,291.71	Portsmouth City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03
Portsmouth 2026/27	£2,291.71	Portsmouth City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03
Portsmouth 2026/27	£2,291.71	Portsmouth City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

Seats on Portsmouth City Council

Seats on Portsmouth City Council · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth After changes to July 2026	LD 23 · Reform 12 · Con 3 · Lab 3 · Ind 1	Election result 8 May 2026 was LD 22, Reform 12, Lab 4, Con 3, Ind 1; later changes to be verified against the council's councillor list. Portsmouth City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-09-23

Neighbourhoods among England's most deprived 10%

Neighbourhoods among England's most deprived 10% · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth Indices of Deprivation 2025	12%	Share of Portsmouth's small areas (LSOAs) in the most deprived decile nationally, IMD 2025. MHCLG ↗Source retrieved 2026-09-23

Council share of Band D tax

Council share of Band D tax · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth 2026/27	£1,908.41	Portsmouth City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

Police share of Band D tax

Police share of Band D tax · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth 2026/27	£290.46	Portsmouth City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

Fire share of Band D tax

Fire share of Band D tax · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth 2026/27	£92.84	Portsmouth City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

MP for Southampton Itchen

MP for Southampton Itchen · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Southampton Checked 3 October 2026	Darren Paffey	Constituency representation; constituency boundaries do not equal the local authority boundary. Party: Labour. UK Parliament ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

MP for Southampton Test

MP for Southampton Test · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Southampton Checked 3 October 2026	Satvir Kaur	Constituency representation; constituency boundaries do not equal the local authority boundary. Party: Labour. UK Parliament ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

MP for Romsey and Southampton North

MP for Romsey and Southampton North · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Southampton Checked 3 October 2026	Caroline Nokes	Constituency representation; constituency boundaries do not equal the local authority boundary. Party: Conservative. UK Parliament ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

MP for Portsmouth North

MP for Portsmouth North · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth Checked 3 October 2026	Amanda Martin	Constituency representation; constituency boundaries do not equal the local authority boundary. Party: Labour. UK Parliament ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

MP for Portsmouth South

MP for Portsmouth South · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth Checked 3 October 2026	Stephen Morgan	Constituency representation; constituency boundaries do not equal the local authority boundary. Party: Labour. UK Parliament ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

Unallocated reserves at financial year end

Unallocated reserves at financial year end2025/26 · GBP

Southampton12,396,000
Portsmouth22,112,000

Unallocated reserves at financial year end · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Southampton 2025/26	£12.396m	MHCLG Revenue Outturn statutory definition, in cash terms. Original figures in £000 converted to GBP. Outturns are distinct from budget forecasts and the council’s own budget presentation; do not mix them in a trend. The 2025/26 release is an initial return and remains subject to revision. MHCLG ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03
Portsmouth 2025/26	£22.112m	MHCLG Revenue Outturn statutory definition, in cash terms. Original figures in £000 converted to GBP. Outturns are distinct from budget forecasts and the council’s own budget presentation; do not mix them in a trend. The 2025/26 release is an initial return and remains subject to revision. MHCLG ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

Other earmarked reserves at financial year end

Other earmarked reserves at financial year end2025/26 · GBP

Southampton61,922,000
Portsmouth252,444,000

Other earmarked reserves at financial year end · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Southampton 2025/26	£61.922m	MHCLG Revenue Outturn statutory definition, in cash terms. Original figures in £000 converted to GBP. Outturns are distinct from budget forecasts and the council’s own budget presentation; do not mix them in a trend. The 2025/26 release is an initial return and remains subject to revision. MHCLG ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03
Portsmouth 2025/26	£252.444m	MHCLG Revenue Outturn statutory definition, in cash terms. Original figures in £000 converted to GBP. Outturns are distinct from budget forecasts and the council’s own budget presentation; do not mix them in a trend. The 2025/26 release is an initial return and remains subject to revision. MHCLG ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

Revenue expenditure — statutory outturn definition

Revenue expenditure — statutory outturn definition2025/26 · GBP

Southampton538,043,000
Portsmouth407,559,000

Revenue expenditure — statutory outturn definition · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Southampton 2025/26	£538.043m	MHCLG Revenue Outturn statutory definition, in cash terms. Original figures in £000 converted to GBP. Outturns are distinct from budget forecasts and the council’s own budget presentation; do not mix them in a trend. The 2025/26 release is an initial return and remains subject to revision. MHCLG ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03
Portsmouth 2025/26	£407.559m	MHCLG Revenue Outturn statutory definition, in cash terms. Original figures in £000 converted to GBP. Outturns are distinct from budget forecasts and the council’s own budget presentation; do not mix them in a trend. The 2025/26 release is an initial return and remains subject to revision. MHCLG ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

Culture and related services — net current expenditure

Culture and related services — net current expenditure2025/26 · GBP

Southampton14,197,000
Portsmouth11,475,000

Culture and related services — net current expenditure · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Southampton 2025/26	£14.197m	MHCLG Revenue Outturn statutory definition, in cash terms. Original figures in £000 converted to GBP. Outturns are distinct from budget forecasts and the council’s own budget presentation; do not mix them in a trend. The 2025/26 release is an initial return and remains subject to revision. MHCLG ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03
Portsmouth 2025/26	£11.475m	MHCLG Revenue Outturn statutory definition, in cash terms. Original figures in £000 converted to GBP. Outturns are distinct from budget forecasts and the council’s own budget presentation; do not mix them in a trend. The 2025/26 release is an initial return and remains subject to revision. MHCLG ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

Dedicated Schools Grant reserves — statutory outturn

Dedicated Schools Grant reserves — statutory outturn · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth 2025/26	£0.450m	The September MHCLG return reports £0.450m at year end, from £11.187m at the start. This differs from the council’s earlier £8.0m draft balance; the reason has not been reconciled. Show the specific source and initial-return status, and do not present the old draft as the latest actual. MHCLG ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

General reserves — February budget forecast

General reserves — February budget forecast · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth 31 March 2027	£22.3m	A forecast in the February 2026 budget report, not an actual reserve balance. Depends on delivery of planned savings. Portsmouth City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

Minimum general reserves — budget policy

Minimum general reserves — budget policy · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth 2026/27	£12m	A minimum reserve policy, not the actual amount held. Portsmouth City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

Savings required in the annual budget

Savings required in the annual budget · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth 2026/27	£3m	Budgeted savings required to balance the 2026/27 budget; not a reported actual overspend or achieved saving. Portsmouth City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

Future funding gap — February budget forecast

Future funding gap — February budget forecast · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Portsmouth 2027/28 to 2029/30	£3m	Three-year forecast deficit, equivalent to £1m annual savings from 2027/28. Assumes annual council-tax increases of 4.99%; report says the deficit could vary by ±£6m. Not a current-year actual deficit. Portsmouth City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

General Fund savings — February budget proposal

General Fund savings — February budget proposal · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Southampton 2026/27	£20.8m	Budgeted savings, not a reported achieved saving. The official report is for the February 2026 budget-setting meetings. Southampton City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

General Fund net revenue budget — February proposal

General Fund net revenue budget — February proposal · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Southampton 2026/27	£285.2m	Council budget definition. Do not compare directly with MHCLG statutory outturn revenue expenditure, which uses a different scope. Southampton City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

General Fund balance — February budget forecast

General Fund balance — February budget forecast · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Southampton 31 March 2027	£14.3m	Forecast General Fund working balance; excludes earmarked reserves. A February 2026 forecast, not an actual balance. Southampton City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

MTFS residual gap — February budget forecast

MTFS residual gap — February budget forecast · retained published records
Area and period	Figure	Definition, source and limits
Southampton 2026/27 to 2029/30	Balanced plan	The plan balances after planned transformation and operational savings. Later years rely on council-tax and business-rate growth targets. Zero residual gap does not mean no savings are required, and is not an actual outturn. Southampton City Council ↗Source retrieved 2026-10-03

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Portsmouth’s council spending needs to be understood alongside its responsibilities

Net revenue expenditure: Portsmouth and Southampton

2017/18 to 2025/26

More local evidence

Forecast general reserves

Budget savings planned

More council finances trends

2017/18 to 2025/26

2017/18 to 2025/26

All the data in this topic