What Wigan Council does

Wigan Council is the statutory local government authority for Wigan Borough in Greater Manchester, England, providing a comprehensive suite of municipal services to residents and businesses across the borough (Wigan, Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley, Ashton-in-Makerfield, and surrounding towns). Its service portfolio spans waste management (weekly bin collections, three household waste recycling centres at Kirkless, Slag Lane, and Chanters), planning and building control, Council Tax administration, housing benefit and Council Tax reduction, parking permits, libraries and museums, leisure and wellbeing (via the Be Well Wigan brand), green infrastructure (Greenheart), and emergency response services. The council serves 154,467 domestic properties on its Council Tax base and serves both resident and business customer segments across the borough.

The council's technology platform centres on the MyAccount resident portal (a secure self-serve interface for Council Tax, housing benefit, and issue reporting), an ArcGIS-based Interactive Planning Map for planning and building control applications, an Online Planning Application System, and integrations with e-paycapita for payments and One Network for roadworks information. Service delivery is multi-channel: physical Life Centres, waste recycling centres, libraries, leisure facilities, a 24/7 MyAccount portal, telephone hotlines (including out-of-hours emergencies), and extensive social media presence across Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Sub-brands such as Be Well Wigan (leisure), Greenheart (green infrastructure), Digital Wigan (digital inclusion, including TechMates for elderly tech support), and the Wigan Borough Volunteering Hub extend the council's reach into community wellbeing, accessibility, and civic engagement.

Wigan Council's revenue model combines property-based taxation (Council Tax across valuation bands A-H, and Business Rates on non-domestic properties) with central government grants and funding for statutory services including education, social care, and welfare support, supplemented by transaction fees for planning applications, parking permits, bulky waste collections, building regulations approvals, and licences. Pricing for transactional services is publicly disclosed and segmented - for example, Council Tax Resident Permits at £35 with 50% discounts for seniors, Blue Badge holders, and charities, and planning application fees ranging from £65 (advertisements/householder) to £285 (large major). The council operates as a public sector entity under UK local government legislation, governed by elected councillors rather than shareholders, with no parent company, private equity, or venture capital backing identified.

Name

Wigan Council

Legal name

Wigan Council

Website

https://wigan.gov.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Wigan Council is the statutory local government authority serving residents and businesses across Wigan Borough in Greater Manchester, delivering municipal services including waste management, planning, Council Tax, housing, education, libraries, and leisure through physical centres and the MyAccount digital portal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government Services

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (925), Waste Collection (56211)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953), Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ), Local Education Authorities & Municipal Education Offices (EDADABAD), Public Works / In-House Municipal Collection Operations (EUAIAAAF)

Keywords

• Local government services
• Waste management services
• Council tax administration
• Planning building control
• Public leisure services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wigan

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Council Tax: Property-based tax levied on domestic properties in the borough based on valuation bands A through H. Primary source of local government funding.
2. Business Rates: Levies on commercial and non-domestic properties operating within the borough.
3. Service Fees and Charges: Fees for specific services including planning applications, parking permits, bulky waste collections, building regulations approvals, and licenses.
4. Government Grants and Funding: Central government funding and grants for specific services and initiatives including education, social care, and welfare support.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wigan Council is the statutory local government authority for Wigan Borough, delivering municipal services including Council Tax billing and collection, waste collection and recycling, planning and building control, housing benefits administration, parking permits, libraries, leisure facilities, and emergency services. Services are delivered through Life Centres, three waste recycling centres, and an integrated digital platform anchored by the MyAccount resident portal. The council serves approximately 154,467 properties across the borough covering residents, businesses, and visitors.

Product overview

Wigan Council provides a portfolio of digital resident services across a unified online platform at wigan.gov.uk, accessible through the MyAccount resident portal. The core service areas span waste management (bins, recycling, bulky collections), planning and building control, council tax administration, housing benefits, parking permits, libraries, and emergency services. The council operates branded sub-initiatives including Be Well Wigan (leisure and health), Greenheart (green infrastructure), and Digital Wigan (digital inclusion), which extend the platform's reach into community wellbeing and accessibility. Services are delivered through both the main council website and domain-specific applications (bulkywaste.wigan.gov.uk, planning.wigan.gov.uk, forms.wigan.gov.uk for MyAccount, bewellwigan.org for leisure).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MyAccount resident portal Secure digital portal allowing residents to manage council tax accounts, housing benefit accounts, report issues, and track progress on submitted reports.
• Bins and Recycling collection services Weekly household waste collection, recycling, food waste caddy distribution, missed bin reporting, and bulky waste collection booking for Wigan Borough residents.
• Planning and Building Control services Planning permission application, building regulations approval, search and comment on planning applications, interactive ArcGIS mapping, and enforcement services for residents and businesses.
• Council Tax billing and collection Council tax billing, payment processing (online, direct debit, telephone, Post Office, PayPoint), valuation band information, discounts, reductions, exemptions, and premium management for 154,467 domestic properties in the borough.
• Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Means-tested benefit administration for housing costs and council tax liability reduction, including claims processing, change reporting, appeals, and overpayment management for eligible residents.
• Parking Permits and Parking Services Resident and business parking permits, controlled parking zone management, blue badge scheme, car park information, and parking fine appeals.
• Waste and Recycling Centres Three household waste recycling centres (Kirkless, Slag Lane, Chanters) with permit schemes for van/trailer access, accepting paper, glass, plastics, metals, appliances, hazardous waste, and building materials.
• Library Services Public library access including book borrowing and renewal, e-books, audio books, e-magazines, online resources, computer access, and community learning programs.
• Wigan Museum Museum with 30,000-object collection relating to Wigan Borough life, offering exhibitions, adult learning workshops, school programs, venue hire, and museum shop.
• Business Rates and Business Services Levies on commercial and non-domestic properties, business rates billing, environmental health, trading standards, licensing, and procurement opportunities for businesses operating in the borough.
• Adult Learning and Skills programs Adult education programs including digital skills, functional skills (English and Maths), vocational training (Health and Social Care, Beauty), education and childcare courses, and community learning partnerships.
• SEND Local Offer Special Educational Needs and Disability information hub providing resources for parents, carers, young people, and professionals, including directories, events, and parent carer forum.
• Emergency Contact Services 24-hour emergency contacts for council services including drainage, flooding, street lighting, building repairs, social care, and national emergency services.
• Roadworks Bulletin and Road Travel Information Weekly updated bulletin of planned roadworks including major projects, road closures, resurfacing schedules, and event-related traffic management across the Wigan borough.
• Be Well Wigan leisure services Leisure and wellbeing brand encompassing leisure centres, sports facilities, swimming, fitness classes, and health living programs across the borough.
• Wigan Borough Volunteering Hub Online platform connecting volunteers with community organisations, allowing registration, role applications, and opportunity advertising for volunteering across the borough.

Quantifiable outcome

• 154,467 properties served for Council Tax
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Jigsaw Homes NorthminorOthersHousing association partner for anti-social behaviour reporting. Residents in Jigsaw Homes North properties can report ASB to their landlord rather than the council.
• Anchor TrustminorOthersHousing association partner for anti-social behaviour reporting. Residents in Anchor Trust properties can report ASB to their landlord.
• Places for PeopleminorOthersHousing association partner for anti-social behaviour reporting. Residents in Places for People properties can report ASB to their landlord.
• Riverside Housing AssociationminorOthersHousing association partner for anti-social behaviour reporting. Residents in Riverside Housing Association properties can report ASB to their landlord.
• Your Housing GroupminorOthersHousing association partner for anti-social behaviour reporting. Residents in Your Housing Group properties can report ASB to their landlord.
• National Careers ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing career advice, CV writing support, and interview technique guidance through qualified career advisers offering telephone appointments.
• Bethell GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner delivering Ashton Town Centre Regeneration scheme including new public square, market improvements, footpath improvements, and carriageway safety works.
• The Casey GroupminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner delivering improvements in Tyldesley Town Centre including new crossing points on Elliott Street and Shuttle Street.
• AE YatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHighway improvement contractor delivering works at A580/Stone Cross Lane junction including new traffic lane and crossing upgrades.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Oldham Council: Greater Manchester metropolitan borough delivering the full suite of local authority services to ~235,000 residents with directly comparable council tax banding distribution and digital service delivery approach.
• Salford City Council: Neighbouring Greater Manchester metropolitan borough council with the same statutory responsibilities — Council Tax, waste collection, planning, housing benefits, libraries, leisure — and a directly comparable population base (~270,000 residents) facing identical funding model constraints.
• Bolton Council: Adjacent Greater Manchester metropolitan borough council serving a similar-sized population (~290,000 residents) with identical statutory service portfolio — directly comparable on revenue mix, digital service maturity, and demographic profile.
• Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council: Greater Manchester metropolitan borough delivering the same core local authority services across a comparable population (~230,000) with similar council tax band distribution and post-industrial economic profile to Wigan.
• St Helens Borough Council: Metropolitan borough council in Merseyside adjacent to Wigan, delivering the same comprehensive municipal service portfolio to a similarly-sized population (~180,000) with overlapping industrial heritage and demographic profile.
• Rochdale Borough Council: Greater Manchester metropolitan borough delivering the full municipal service portfolio — waste, planning, Council Tax, housing, leisure — to a comparable population base (~220,000) under the same funding model constraints.
• Trafford Council: Greater Manchester metropolitan borough council operating the same statutory service model across a comparable population (~235,000), with a similar mix of waste collection, planning, housing benefits, and leisure operations.
• Warrington Borough Council: Unitary authority bordering Wigan Borough delivering parallel statutory services — waste collection, Council Tax, planning, housing — across a similar population (~210,000), making it a directly comparable operating peer.
• Bury Council: Greater Manchester metropolitan borough council providing identical statutory services to ~190,000 residents with comparable council tax structure and digital service platform maturity.
• Manchester City Council: Largest Greater Manchester metropolitan authority providing the same comprehensive statutory services — waste, planning, Council Tax, housing, libraries, leisure — to a much larger population (~550,000), serving as a scaled comparable on service portfolio breadth and digital platform maturity.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/wigancouncil
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/wigancouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/WiganCouncilOnline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wigan-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/wigancouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Wigan Council