Blackpool Council: local authority assessment

How we assess local authorities

Assessment published: 6 August 2025

About Blackpool Council

Demographics

Blackpool is a popular seaside tourist destination in the North-West of England. It is a 
unitary authority which borders one large county council. The local authority area covers 
approximately 35 square kilometers (described locally as 7 x 3 miles) with a total 
population of 142,708. It was the world’s first mass market seaside resort, with a heritage 
stretching back over 150 years. In addition to it beaches, Blackpool's major attractions and 
landmarks include Blackpool Tower, Blackpool Illuminations, the Winter Gardens, and the 
UK's only surviving first-generation tramway.

Blackpool is the most deprived local authority in England ranked 1 out of 153 local 
authorities, (with 1 being the most deprived and 153 being the least deprived). The Index 
of Multiple Deprivation score is 10 (10 being the most deprived). 58% of local people live in 
areas which are in the most deprived areas in the country. 5 areas (Bloomfield, Talbot, 
Tyldesley, Claremont and Park) have NHS ‘priority wards’ status due to the level of 
deprivation and health inequalities.

Blackpool has a predominantly white population 94.69% which was significantly above the 
England average of 81.05%. People who did not identify as ‘white’ were in the minority 
with 1.57% of people identifying as ‘Mixed or multiple,’ 2.61% as Asian or Asian British, 
0.63% as ‘other’ and 0.50% identify as Black, Black British, Caribbean or African. All age 
brackets for the population are within England averages (Ages 0 to 17: 20.09%, Ages 18 to 
64: 59.27%, Ages 65 and over 20.64%, compared to national averages of 20.80%, 60.51% 
and 18.69%, Office of National Statistics ONS, 2023).

Health Index Scores suggest worse health and poorer outcomes for local people 
compared to England. People living in Blackpool have a shorter life expectancy than 
England averages, at 74.1 years for males and 79 years for females and a shorter healthy 
life expectancy at 53.5 years for males and 54.3 for females (10 years less than the 
national average).

Drug related deaths in Blackpool are the highest within England. Alcohol use as a reason 
for hospital admission was the second highest in England. 

Blackpool is part of Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System. The local 
authority Director of Adult Social Care (DASS) has a dual role as director of place 
(Blackpool) within the Integrated Care Board (ICB). 

The political make-up of the council is 28 councillors representing the Labour party, 12 
councillors representing the Conservative party and 2 councillors representing the Reform 
UK party.

Financial facts

• The local authority estimated that in 2023/24, its total budget would be 
  £262,764,000.00. Its actual spend for that year was £288,053,000.00, which was 
  £25,289,000.00 more than estimated.
• The local authority estimated that it would spend £67,235,000.00 of its total budget 
  on adult social care in 2023/24. Its actual spend for that year was £71,158,000.00, 
  which was £3,923,000.00 more than estimated.
• In 2023/2024, 24.70% of the budget was spent on adult social care
• The local authority has raised the full adult social care precept for 2023/24, with a 
  value of 2%. Please note that the amount raised through adult social care precept 
  varies from local authority to local authority.
• Approximately 3990 people were accessing long term ASC support, and 
  approximately 1030 people were accessing short term adult social care support in 
  2023/24. Local Authorities spend money on a range of adult social care services, 
  including supporting individuals. No two care packages are the same and vary 
  significantly in their intensity, duration, and cost.

This data is reproduced at the request of the Department of Health and Social Care. It has 
not been factored into our assessment and is presented for information purposes only.