How well does your council in England perform?

130 councils in England (London boroughs, metropolitan boroughs and unitary councils) ranked on service quality, value for money and financial health, from official open data. Every figure links back to its source.

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Separate leagues. England, Scotland and Wales are measured differently, so a rank in one is not comparable with another. Why. England is stable; Scotland and Wales are provisional.

Data period: Oldest figures 2024-25 (DEFRA and DHSC); newest as at 2026-11 (CQC). Published by CQC, DEFRA, DHSC, DfE, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, MHCLG and Ofsted.

Data last updated: 1 November 2026 · Last checked: 1 November 2026. Sources publish on their own schedules, so figures can be older than the last check.

How it is builtService quality 60% · Value for money 20% · Financial health 20%How we rank

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Council rankings
RankOverall	Council	BandOverall	Likely rangeon a scale of 1 to 130	Band Dcouncil element	Band Dtotal bill	Control	Service qualityrank, 1 = best	Value for moneyrank, 1 = best	Financial healthrank, 1 = best
1	RotherhamMetropolitan borough	Top quarter	1 to 12	£1,944.52	£2,381.53	Labour majority	1	79	71
2	BexleyLondon borough	Top quarter	1 to 13	£1,855.85	£2,366.36	Conservative majority	5	40	39
3	WiganMetropolitan borough	Top quarter	1 to 12	£1,712.29	£2,152.68	Labour majority	10	15	29
4	HartlepoolUnitary council	Top quarter	1 to 26	£2,124.69	£2,560.20	NOC · Reform UK-led	2	105	30
5	SunderlandMetropolitan borough	Top quarter	2 to 20	£1,876.80	£2,197.14	Reform UK majority	6	58	59
6	BarnsleyMetropolitan borough	Top quarter	1 to 23	£1,942.29	£2,325.96	Reform UK majority	11	17	35
7	CoventryMetropolitan borough	Top quarter	2 to 19	£2,186.40	£2,516.72	Labour minority	26	13	17
8	North LincolnshireUnitary council	Top quarter	3 to 22	£1,884.70	£2,348.46	Conservative majority	14	32	31
9	WakefieldMetropolitan borough	Top quarter	5 to 21	£1,891.63	£2,296.89	Reform UK majority	15	33	33
10	CalderdaleMetropolitan borough	Top quarter	3 to 27	£2,034.19	£2,420.15	Reform UK majority	3	84	77
11	DarlingtonUnitary council	Top quarter	4 to 25	£2,056.87	£2,493.83	NOC · Labour-led	17	59	19
12	County DurhamUnitary council	Top quarter	2 to 29	£2,071.11	£2,622.15	Reform UK majority	36	4	20
13	Telford and WrekinUnitary council	Top quarter	5 to 32	£1,694.19	£2,256.26	Labour majority	4	100	68
14	DorsetUnitary council	Top quarter	5 to 29	£2,205.90	£2,765.02	NOC · Lib Dem-led	9	55	79
15	Kingston upon ThamesLondon borough	Top quarter	7 to 25	£2,098.69	£2,609.20	Lib Dem majority	18	49	48
16	WokinghamUnitary council	Top quarter	4 to 40	£2,027.40	£2,497.70	Lib Dem majority	8	87	57
17	Blackburn with DarwenUnitary council	Top quarter	4 to 36	£2,062.96	£2,455.27	Labour minority	16	85	16
18	North YorkshireUnitary council	Top quarter	3 to 37	£2,036.32	£2,544.34	Conservative minority	48	48	1
19	Richmond upon ThamesLondon borough	Top quarter	6 to 39	£1,975.59	£2,486.10	Lib Dem majority	7	121	18
20	North SomersetUnitary council	Top quarter	6 to 40	£1,955.01	£2,491.22	NOC · Lib Dem-led	29	24	43
21	WandsworthLondon borough	Top quarter	6 to 41	£517.70	£1,028.21	Conservative minority	46	43	6
22	BoltonMetropolitan borough	Top quarter	11 to 36	£1,953.08	£2,399.74	Labour minority	40	41	11
23	SuttonLondon borough	Top quarter	13 to 39	£1,868.13	£2,378.64	Lib Dem majority	20	73	40
24	RutlandUnitary council	Top quarter	5 to 44	£2,263.33	£2,737.58	Lib Dem minority	25	70	32
25	MertonLondon borough	Top quarter	12 to 37	£1,636.25	£2,146.76	Labour majority	37	27	38
26	DoncasterMetropolitan borough	Top quarter	17 to 35	£1,749.86	£2,167.75	Labour mayor	31	37	58
27	Milton KeynesUnitary council	Top quarter	7 to 52	£1,847.53	£2,372.21	NOC · Lib Dem-led	64	30	3
28	WiltshireUnitary council	Top quarter	16 to 39	£1,981.15	£2,571.78	NOC · Lib Dem-led	30	23	78
29	St. HelensMetropolitan borough	Top quarter	17 to 48	£1,975.65	£2,403.38	Reform UK majority	28	103	21
30	Bracknell ForestUnitary council	Top quarter	20 to 52	£1,781.46	£2,264.80	Labour minority	19	83	69
31	SalfordMetropolitan borough	Top quarter	8 to 61	£2,155.20	£2,594.45	Labour mayor	71	3	26
32	Westmorland and FurnessUnitary council	Top quarter	20 to 54	£2,014.73	£2,507.99	Lib Dem majority	12	118	55
33	ManchesterMetropolitan borough	Upper middle	23 to 48	£1,872.79	£2,312.04	Labour majority	22	81	67
34	IslingtonLondon borough	Upper middle	17 to 63	£1,597.64	£2,108.15	Labour majority	23	126	4
35	GatesheadMetropolitan borough	Upper middle	27 to 61	£2,396.07	£2,715.81	Reform UK majority	32	97	45
36	Southend-on-SeaUnitary council	Upper middle	28 to 55	£1,888.47	£2,265.17	NOC · Labour-led	45	69	36
37	EalingLondon borough	Upper middle	15 to 71	£1,628.02	£2,138.53	Labour majority	78	2	37
38	BuryMetropolitan borough	Upper middle	22 to 64	£2,115.90	£2,555.15	Labour majority	38	76	51
39	WalsallMetropolitan borough	Upper middle	27 to 59	£2,297.79	£2,627.48	Reform UK majority	41	75	47
40	OldhamMetropolitan borough	Upper middle	26 to 63	£2,156.22	£2,602.23	NOC	68	31	24
41	BradfordMetropolitan borough	Upper middle	22 to 70	£1,965.28	£2,360.73	Reform UK minority	42	12	91
42	Dudley *Metropolitan borough	Upper middle	23 to 75	£1,815.15	£2,144.84	Conservative minority	50	–	–
43	Kensington and ChelseaLondon borough	Upper middle	19 to 75	£1,156.14	£1,666.65	Conservative majority	13	123	44
44	BromleyLondon borough	Upper middle	17 to 72	£1,629.53	£2,140.04	Conservative majority	83	19	5
45	WolverhamptonMetropolitan borough	Upper middle	27 to 64	£2,209.30	£2,538.99	Labour majority	67	16	56
46	Redcar and ClevelandUnitary council	Upper middle	23 to 76	£2,094.03	£2,544.48	Labour minority	24	64	115
47	SolihullMetropolitan borough	Upper middle	26 to 69	£1,843.27	£2,197.26	Conservative minority	27	67	108
48	YorkUnitary council	Upper middle	26 to 69	£1,817.43	£2,287.15	Labour majority	61	44	54
49	North East LincolnshireUnitary council	Upper middle	30 to 61	£2,039.88	£2,483.85	Conservative minority	53	46	73
50	GreenwichLondon borough	Upper middle	31 to 66	£1,597.35	£2,107.86	Labour majority	70	56	13
51	ShropshireUnitary council	Upper middle	29 to 72	£1,969.09	£2,528.18	Lib Dem majority	34	29	117
52	Sandwell *Metropolitan borough	Upper middle	25 to 75	£1,914.77	£2,244.46	Reform UK majority	59	–	–
53	Central BedfordshireUnitary council	Upper middle	33 to 64	£1,931.54	£2,516.16	Independent minority	47	9	89
54	LeedsMetropolitan borough	Upper middle	33 to 70	£1,903.74	£2,283.73	Labour minority	56	26	84
55	Cheshire West and ChesterUnitary council	Upper middle	33 to 70	£2,076.79	£2,517.33	Labour minority	62	47	70
56	LutonUnitary council	Upper middle	29 to 73	£2,019.62	£2,439.93	Labour majority	82	14	27
57	North TynesideMetropolitan borough	Upper middle	37 to 74	£2,142.32	£2,461.77	Labour mayor	65	51	64
58	HillingdonLondon borough	Upper middle	40 to 73	£1,534.95	£2,045.46	Conservative majority	44	25	121
59	SeftonMetropolitan borough	Upper middle	36 to 81	£2,145.51	£2,583.22	Labour majority	21	93	122
60	CamdenLondon borough	Upper middle	34 to 86	£1,697.04	£2,207.55	Labour majority	33	127	7
61	Tower HamletsLondon borough	Upper middle	38 to 79	£1,327.27	£1,837.78	Aspire mayor	75	35	34
62	NorthumberlandUnitary council	Upper middle	34 to 75	£2,279.36	£2,596.94	Conservative minority	58	92	46
63	Stockton-on-TeesUnitary council	Upper middle	35 to 78	£2,139.91	£2,589.83	Labour minority	79	21	41
64	South GloucestershireUnitary council	Upper middle	39 to 78	£2,027.71	£2,550.59	NOC · Lib Dem-led	49	109	53
65	HounslowLondon borough	Upper middle	44 to 80	£1,675.05	£2,185.56	Labour majority	88	28	25
66	WestminsterLondon borough	Lower middle	43 to 85	£537.74	£1,049.55	Conservative majority	52	120	15
67	StockportMetropolitan borough	Lower middle	42 to 85	£2,179.65	£2,618.90	Lib Dem majority	43	98	85
68	RochdaleMetropolitan borough	Lower middle	46 to 83	£2,161.58	£2,600.83	Labour majority	77	68	28
69	DerbyUnitary council	Lower middle	50 to 83	£1,898.99	£2,306.00	Labour minority	74	60	62
70	SouthamptonUnitary council	Lower middle	50 to 85	£1,998.18	£2,381.48	Labour minority	54	61	95
71	East Riding of YorkshireUnitary council	Lower middle	38 to 93	£1,968.90	£2,466.08	Conservative minority	85	36	60
72	CornwallUnitary council	Lower middle	57 to 85	£2,086.36	£2,590.93	NOC · Lib Dem-led	60	112	74
73	ThurrockUnitary council	Lower middle	55 to 95	£1,886.85	£2,254.68	Reform UK majority	39	104	110
74	Stoke-on-TrentUnitary council	Lower middle	51 to 99	£1,783.78	£2,183.12	Labour majority	35	115	119
75	WarringtonUnitary council	Lower middle	55 to 93	£2,007.50	£2,447.61	Labour majority	51	86	100
76	Hammersmith and FulhamLondon borough	Lower middle	45 to 96	£1,009.00	£1,519.51	Labour majority	90	110	2
77	Bath and North East SomersetUnitary council	Lower middle	55 to 91	£1,914.03	£2,383.42	Lib Dem majority	73	74	80
78	Cheshire EastUnitary council	Lower middle	52 to 101	£1,975.95	£2,454.87	NOC · Labour-led	69	45	126
79	BrentLondon borough	Lower middle	53 to 93	£1,724.76	£2,235.27	Labour minority	98	10	75
80	Windsor and MaidenheadUnitary council	Lower middle	62 to 92	£1,526.63	£1,952.62	Lib Dem majority	72	42	111
81	LambethLondon borough	Lower middle	60 to 97	£1,536.60	£2,047.11	Green minority	57	89	98
82	PeterboroughUnitary council	Lower middle	48 to 102	£1,836.72	£2,293.47	Labour minority	92	1	120
83	South TynesideMetropolitan borough	Lower middle	56 to 106	£2,114.98	£2,434.43	Reform UK majority	55	117	88
84	Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleUnitary council	Lower middle	68 to 97	£1,980.46	£2,435.58	NOC · Lib Dem-led	80	72	82
85	Barking and DagenhamLondon borough	Lower middle	63 to 105	£1,688.00	£2,198.51	Labour majority	89	78	63
86	MiddlesbroughUnitary council	Lower middle	68 to 106	£2,115.86	£2,549.16	Labour mayor	66	99	114
87	BarnetLondon borough	Lower middle	74 to 100	£1,622.09	£2,132.60	Labour minority	81	54	101
88	NewhamLondon borough	Lower middle	66 to 106	£1,433.72	£1,944.23	Labour mayor	94	8	106
89	EnfieldLondon borough	Lower middle	69 to 104	£1,757.16	£2,267.67	Conservative minority	96	6	112
90	Kingston upon Hull, City ofUnitary council	Lower middle	75 to 102	£1,873.46	£2,295.04	Lib Dem minority	97	50	81
91	West BerkshireUnitary council	Lower middle	77 to 107	£2,017.32	£2,505.37	Lib Dem majority	63	114	118
92	North NorthamptonshireUnitary council	Lower middle	74 to 100	£1,918.23	£2,423.96	Reform UK majority	105	52	49
93	LeicesterUnitary council	Lower middle	69 to 105	£2,121.87	£2,528.75	Labour mayor	106	95	9
94	Herefordshire, County ofUnitary council	Lower middle	78 to 102	£2,067.64	£2,574.37	Conservative minority	87	106	65
95	HarrowLondon borough	Lower middle	68 to 108	£2,000.56	£2,511.07	Conservative majority	110	7	72
96	TorbayUnitary council	Lower middle	79 to 108	£2,044.11	£2,470.25	Conservative minority	101	96	52
97	KirkleesMetropolitan borough	Lower middle	77 to 106	£2,062.42	£2,441.07	Reform UK minority	107	18	83
98	BuckinghamshireUnitary council	Bottom quarter	64 to 112	£2,037.50	£2,526.58	Conservative majority	125	11	8
99	PortsmouthUnitary council	Bottom quarter	73 to 112	£1,908.41	£2,291.71	Lib Dem majority	108	88	10
100	Isle of WightUnitary council	Bottom quarter	88 to 109	£2,103.77	£2,625.79	NOC · Independent-led	84	91	93
101	MedwayUnitary council	Bottom quarter	87 to 113	£1,934.33	£2,328.55	Labour majority	76	111	105
102	LewishamLondon borough	Bottom quarter	75 to 115	£1,726.82	£2,237.33	Green mayor	118	65	14
103	HaringeyLondon borough	Bottom quarter	80 to 115	£1,803.27	£2,313.78	Green minority	93	63	107
104	TamesideMetropolitan borough	Bottom quarter	81 to 114	£2,007.38	£2,447.21	Labour minority	104	102	50
105	TraffordMetropolitan borough	Bottom quarter	87 to 113	£1,850.54	£2,291.70	Labour majority	95	71	102
106	Brighton and HoveUnitary council	Bottom quarter	88 to 116	£2,180.42	£2,580.54	Labour majority	86	107	97
107	SheffieldMetropolitan borough	Bottom quarter	84 to 117	£2,130.23	£2,510.16	NOC · Labour-led	115	80	22
108	Newcastle upon TyneMetropolitan borough	Bottom quarter	89 to 118	£2,221.21	£2,542.19	Lib Dem minority	113	113	12
109	HackneyLondon borough	Bottom quarter	95 to 119	£1,549.79	£2,060.30	Green mayor	119	101	23
110	ReadingUnitary council	Bottom quarter	97 to 119	£2,223.18	£2,612.77	Labour majority	100	116	87
111	Bristol, City ofUnitary council	Bottom quarter	101 to 119	£2,310.05	£2,713.68	NOC · Green-led	114	90	66
112	Waltham ForestLondon borough	Bottom quarter	100 to 121	£1,876.45	£2,386.96	Green majority	112	39	96
113	SouthwarkLondon borough	Bottom quarter	98 to 121	£1,456.75	£1,967.26	NOC · Green-led	117	82	61
114	KnowsleyMetropolitan borough	Bottom quarter	93 to 122	£2,028.94	£2,488.25	Labour majority	99	124	76
115	Cumberland *Unitary council	Bottom quarter	94 to 122	£2,002.64	£2,511.32	Labour majority	103	–	–
116	LiverpoolMetropolitan borough	Bottom quarter	95 to 122	£2,254.37	£2,673.59	Labour majority	109	119	42
117	PlymouthUnitary council	Bottom quarter	104 to 122	£2,028.97	£2,441.85	Labour majority	102	94	127
118	SomersetUnitary council	Bottom quarter	104 to 123	£1,950.89	£2,560.59	Lib Dem majority	116	53	104
119	West NorthamptonshireUnitary council	Bottom quarter	106 to 122	£1,959.40	£2,486.66	Reform UK majority	123	20	109
120	SwindonUnitary council	Bottom quarter	107 to 124	£1,866.50	£2,438.10	Conservative minority	120	57	103
121	HaltonUnitary council	Bottom quarter	105 to 127	£1,938.81	£2,366.61	Labour majority	91	125	124
122	BedfordUnitary council	Bottom quarter	110 to 124	£2,011.28	£2,471.74	Conservative mayor	121	66	92
123	BirminghamMetropolitan borough	Bottom quarter	112 to 126	£2,023.48	£2,362.90	NOC · Lib Dem-led	124	38	94
124	BlackpoolUnitary council	Bottom quarter	112 to 126	£2,126.09	£2,513.22	Labour majority	111	122	86
125	CroydonLondon borough	Bottom quarter	120 to 128	£2,089.40	£2,599.91	Conservative mayor	122	108	123
126	RedbridgeLondon borough	Bottom quarter	115 to 129	£1,784.07	£2,294.58	Labour majority	128	34	99
127	HaveringLondon borough	Bottom quarter	120 to 129	£1,914.15	£2,424.66	Reform UK majority	127	62	116
128	WirralMetropolitan borough	Bottom quarter	123 to 128	£2,081.37	£2,500.59	Labour minority	126	77	113
129	NottinghamUnitary council	Bottom quarter	119 to 130	£2,342.08	£2,755.39	Labour majority	129	22	90
130	SloughUnitary council	Bottom quarter	120 to 130	£2,019.05	£2,414.44	NOC · Conservative-led	130	5	125

Control shows who runs the council (NOC = no overall control), from Open Council Data UK (context only, not scored). Pillar columns show each council's rank out of 130. Overall weights: service quality 60%, value for money 20%, financial health 20%. Rank positions in the middle of the table are sensitive to weighting, so the bands are the more reliable guide.
* Ranked on the data available: some spending and finance returns have not yet been published for this council.

Top 10 best-performing councils

There is no official league table of every council in the UK. These are the ten highest-ranked of the 130 councils in England that we rank (London boroughs, metropolitan boroughs and unitary councils), on service quality (60%), value for money (20%) and financial health (20%). Each comes with a likely range, because a council's exact position depends on how the measures are weighted.

Rotherham — Metropolitan borough, likely range 1st to 12th
Bexley — London borough, likely range 1st to 13th
Wigan — Metropolitan borough, likely range 1st to 12th
Hartlepool — Unitary council, likely range 1st to 26th
Sunderland — Metropolitan borough, likely range 2nd to 20th
Barnsley — Metropolitan borough, likely range 1st to 23rd
Coventry — Metropolitan borough, likely range 2nd to 19th
North Lincolnshire — Unitary council, likely range 3rd to 22nd
Wakefield — Metropolitan borough, likely range 5th to 21st
Calderdale — Metropolitan borough, likely range 3rd to 27th

The full table above ranks all 130. London boroughs, metropolitan boroughs and unitary councils each have their own table. How the likely ranges are worked out.

Common questions

How do I find my council's ranking?

Enter your postcode or your council's name in the box at the top of this page, or find it in the ranking table. Each council has its own page with its rank, how it scores on each pillar and the figures behind it. Compare two councils

Which is the best council in England?

Rotherham ranks first of the 130 single-tier councils we rank, on service quality (60%), value for money (20%) and financial health (20%). Councils a few places apart are similar, so each comes with a likely range. Rotherham's figures · Top 10

Why isn't my district council in the table?

District councils share services with a county council, so neither can be scored fairly on the full set of services. We rank only single-tier councils: London boroughs, metropolitan boroughs and unitary councils. Who is ranked

Is there an official league table of councils?

No single official league table covers every council in England. This ranking brings together official figures on service quality, value for money and financial health, and publishes the method. How we score

Other leagues

Scotland and Wales are ranked separately, on their own data and methodology, so a rank there is not comparable with one above.

Scotland
32 councils ranked · methodology v1.0 (provisional)
Top: East Dunbartonshire
Wales
21 councils ranked · methodology v1.0 (provisional)
Top: Newport