About Council Tax

We collect your Council Tax on behalf of Devon County Council, ourselves West Devon Borough Council, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority and Town and Parish Councils.

This year for an average band D property, your council tax will be £2,574.29 and it is divided up like this:

*The Council Tax attributable to Devon County Council includes a precept to fund adult social care.

This short video shows how your Council Tax is spent by us and by the other organisations who receive it. You can click on the video to open it in a larger browser window.

Changes in spending

West Devon Borough Council plans to spend £26.1 million (gross) on providing services for 2025/26. A total of £20.2 million of this amount comes from the income we receive from grants, fees and charges. Therefore, the amount of Council Tax we need to collect is £5.9 million. The council’s net budget has reduced from £9.5 million in 2024/25 to £8.8 million in 2025/26, mainly due to efficiency savings and additional income.  

The council, along with other local authorities, has faced unprecedented reductions in Government funding. Between 2009/10 and 2020/21, the Council’s Core Government funding reduced by £3 million. The Council now receives minimal Revenue Support Grant (main Government Grant) of £112,477.

To secure the future of council services to the public, the council has increased council tax by £7.82 (2.99%) from £261.59 in 2024/25. This means that the cost of West Devon Borough Council’s services for an average band D property will be £269.41 for 2025/26 (out of a total council tax bill for a band D property of £2,574.29).  

The 2025/26 revenue budget sets out proposals for the council to achieve a balanced budget for 2025/26 whilst focusing on continuing to deliver core services across the borough.  

The council remains committed to helping those with the current housing crisis. There are many housing schemes currently in development. The council has purchased 11 homes by attracting £1.45m of Government grant funding under the Local Authority Housing Fund for temporary accommodation and resettlement. 

In the spring we will also open the doors to our three new temporary accommodation flats on Plymouth Road in Tavistock. We continue to work tirelessly to bring social rented accommodation to those who need it. The Council will also ringfence funding for housing initiatives from charging second homes owners a 100% premium. The West Devon share of this funding is £80,400 (11%).

Climate and biodiversity is high on many residents’ agendas, so the council has launched schemes to help preserve the area’s biodiversity, along with other projects, including a thermal imaging camera for local communities to use. The camera will help residents improve their homes’ energy efficiency with help from our partners, Tamar Energy Community.

On the streets, the council has been cleaning up chewing gum mess, with an innovative piece of equipment to keep West Devon’s streets clean for our residents and visitors.

£1.5 million has been set aside for a Capital Works Programme for a range of capital projects. This funding includes private sector renewals for eligible residents’ homes, including Disabled Facility Grants (DFGs) which range from stair lifts, to level access showers to support independent living within the home

The council has continued to work in partnership with South Hams District Council which has allowed West Devon to achieve annual savings of £2.2m and more importantly, protect front line services.

Despite operating within a very tight budget, the council ensures that every penny it uses is used effectively to benefit our community.

The budget agreed will leave the council on a stable financial footing and will help the Council manage the uncertainty of the future reforms of Local Government finances, which are increasingly stretched.

Through its Council Tax Reduction scheme, the Borough Council will ensure that those who are in financial hardship are able to pay less Council Tax, while receiving the full range of support services.

West Devon Borough Council's spending plans 2025/26

This year, our spending plans can be summarised as follows:

More information

The download below shows the Council Tax charges by band and by parish.

If a Town or Parish Council charges over £140k for their precept, they have a statutory duty to publish their spending details. The details can be downloaded below.