We collect your council tax on behalf of Devon County Council, ourselves South Hams District Council, Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall, Devon and Somerset Fire & Rescue Authority and Town and Parish Councils.
This year for an average band D property your council tax will be £2,491.75 and it is divided up like this:
| Authority | Percentage Share |
|---|---|
| Devon County Council* | 72% |
| South Hams District Council | 8% |
| Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner | 12% |
| Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority | 4% |
| Town and Parish Council | 4% |
| Total | 100% |
*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 a larger version in a new browser window.
South Hams District Council plans to spend £49.6million (gross) on providing services for 2025/26. A total of £40.9million 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 £8.7million. The Council’s net budget has increased from £13.13 million (24/25) to £14.14 million (25/26).
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 has reduced by £4 million. The Council now receives minimal Revenue Support Grant (main Government Grant) of £168,742.
This year, the Council has increased council tax by £5.70 (2.99%) from £190.96 in 2024/25. This means that the cost of South Hams services for an average band D property will be £196.66 for 2025/26 (out of a total council tax bill for a band D property of £2,491.75).
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 district.
The Council is doing all it can to make sure it meets its housing ambitions. Seventeen homes were bought by the Council under the Local Authority Housing Fund scheme, attracting Government grants of £2.5 million in match funding. The Council has numerous housing projects in the works, bringing both social rented and temporary accommodation to those who need it, with more in the pipeline. The decision to ringfence the second homes income for the very people who are impacted by the lack of available housing in the area shows the Council’s commitment to the housing crisis. This money will be used for housing initiatives.
The Waste service is working well with improving recycling rates. The Council has reduced its carbon footprint by increasing the amount of EV chargers and the planned installation of solar panels on our leisure centres. There has also been the huge new planting which has begun at Hope Wood in South Brent. Through these initiatives the Council is making excellent headway on its climate and biodiversity aims.
£4.6 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. This includes an in principal allocation for the acquisition of greenfield land for tree planting and biodiversity net gain, with the aim to lever in external government DEFRA funding. This is aligned to the Council’s strategy and objective to plant a tree for each resident.
A previously agreed annual contribution, towards a Waste fleet replacement programme is included within this Capital Programme.
Strong financial management over many years and the continual drive for efficiency has enabled the Council to accommodate service pressures while still maintaining a low level of council tax. The Council has continued to work in partnership with West Devon Borough Council which has allowed South Hams to achieve annual savings of £3.9 million and more importantly protect front line services.
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 the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, South Hams District Council will ensure that those in financial hardship are able to pay less Council Tax, and receive the full range of support services.
This year, our spending plans can be summarised as follows:
| Service Area | 2025/26 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Service and Delivery (frontline services such as Waste and Recycling and Revenues and Benefits) |
31,294 | 33,395 |
| Strategy and Governance (Planning, Elections, Legal and Corporate Services) |
6,102 | 6,124 |
| Place and Enterprise (Car Parking, Dartmouth Lower Ferry, Salcombe Harbour, Housing and Environmental Health) |
9,343 | 8,476 |
| Strategic Finance (Including Strategic Financial Planning) |
2,324 | 2,147 |
| Contributions from Reserves (to fund one-off items of expense) |
530 | (489) |
| Total | 49,593 | 49,653 |
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.
