Rankings · London borough in England
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Lambeth
Lambeth council ranks 81st of 130 single-tier councils in England (likely range 60th to 97th), in the lower middle. Strongest on service quality (57th of 130), weakest on financial health (98th of 127).
Formally the London Borough of Lambeth.
Compare Lambeth with another council
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: · Last checked: . Sources publish on their own schedules, so figures can be older than the last check.
Methodology v2.0 (stable) · to cite: "Lambeth council, Council Rankings, 1 November 2026, https://councilrankings.com/council/lambeth/"
Likely range 60th–97th. Stays in the lower middle in 84% of re-runs. How we work this out
How Lambeth scores
Bar length shows the share of the 130 councils that Lambeth beats. Overall weights: service quality 60%, value for money 20%, financial health 20%. Select any measure below to see how every council compares on it.
Service quality
Allowing for need, Lambeth ranks 47th of 130 (likely range 26th–68th), against 57th unadjusted. That is 10 places higher once need is allowed for, within the likely range.
Adjusted: children's services, adult social care and waste & recycling. Not adjusted, because there is no published measure of need: planning, complaints, special educational needs and homelessness. This view is not part of the overall rank. How we adjust
Planning
| Measure | Lambeth | Median of 130 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major planning decisions made in time (24 months) Higher is better | 100.0% | 93.7% | =1 / 130 | 2024 Q3 to 2026 Q2 |
| Non-major planning decisions made in time (24 months) Higher is better | 93.5% | 92.0% | 51 / 130 | 2024 Q3 to 2026 Q2 |
| Planning decisions in the financial year Higher is better · context only | 1,784 | 1,092 | – | 2025-26 |
Source: MHCLG — Planning application statistics (PS2)
Waste & recycling
| Measure | Lambeth | Median of 130 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household waste sent for reuse recycling or composting Higher is better | 32.5% | 37.4% | =88 / 130 | 2024-25 |
| Residual household waste per household Lower is better | 303 kg | 516 kg | =1 / 130 | 2024-25 |
Source: DEFRA — Local authority collected waste management
Complaints
| Measure | Lambeth | Median of 130 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ombudsman upheld decisions per 100k residents Lower is better | 18.7 | 4.8 | =124 / 130 | 2024-25 to 2025-26 |
| Ombudsman investigations upheld Lower is better | 90.8% | 81.9% | 116 / 130 | 2024-25 to 2025-26 |
| Ombudsman recommendations implemented on time Higher is better | 59.6% | 75.0% | 103 / 128 | 2025-26 |
| Ombudsman recommendations implemented Higher is better · context only | 100.0% | 100.0% | – | 2025-26 |
| Upheld complaints already remedied by the council before reaching the Ombudsman Higher is better · context only | 5.0% | 15.2% | – | 2025-26 |
Source: Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman — annual review data
Children's services
| Measure | Lambeth | Median of 130 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted overall effectiveness (children's services) Higher is better | Good | Good | =40 / 130 | latest at 2026-03-31 |
| Ofsted sub-judgements (average) Higher is better | Good | Good | =56 / 130 | latest at 2026-03-31 |
Source: Ofsted — Local authority inspection outcomes
Adult social care
| Measure | Lambeth | Median of 130 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CQC assessment score for adult social care Higher is better | 77.8%Good assessment published 15 May 2026 | 63.9% | =8 / 126 | latest at 2026-11 |
| Quality of life of people who use services (adjusted) Higher is better | 0.406 | 0.417 | =88 / 129 | 2024-25 |
| People who use services satisfied with their care and support Higher is better | 56.7% | 65.5% | =123 / 129 | 2024-25 |
| Older people still at home 12 weeks after hospital discharge into reablement Higher is better | 66.9% | 62.5% | 27 / 119 | 2024-25 |
| Adults aged 18 to 64 with a learning disability who live in their own home or with family Higher is better | 71.1% | 83.9% | =118 / 129 | 2024-25 |
| People who use services who feel safe Higher is better | 70.2% | 70.7% | =72 / 129 | 2024-25 |
Source: CQC — Local authority assessment reports; DHSC — Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework
Special educational needs
| Measure | Lambeth | Median of 130 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New EHC plans issued within 20 weeks Higher is better | 88.2% | 58.3% | 18 / 130 | 2024 to 2025 |
Source: DfE — Education, health and care plans
Homelessness
| Measure | Lambeth | Median of 130 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homelessness prevented: accommodation secured for 6+ months Higher is better | 84.8% | 51.7% | =1 / 130 | 2025-09 to 2026-03 |
| Homelessness relieved: accommodation secured for 6+ months Higher is better | 31.2% | 33.5% | 75 / 130 | 2025-09 to 2026-03 |
| Households in temporary accommodation per 1000 households Lower is better | 30.9 | 2.8 | =120 / 126 | 2026-03 |
| Families with children in B&B for more than 6 weeks Lower is better · context only | Not reported this quarter | 0 | – | 2026-03 |
Value for money
Adult social care value for money
Lambeth spends £549 per adult on adult social care, against about £603 expected after allowing for older people's poverty, how many residents are over 65 and London's higher costs (£53 less). Its adult social care results rank 60th of 125.
Good results, lower cost · value for money rank 18th of 122
Children's services value for money
Lambeth spends £2,447 per child on children's services, against about £1,600 expected after allowing for child poverty and London's higher costs (£847 more). Its children's services results rank 56th of 130.
Good results, higher cost · value for money rank 124th of 127
Waste value for money
Lambeth spends £174 per home on waste & recycling, against about £196 expected after allowing for deprivation, London's higher costs and share of census output areas classed rural (£23 less). Its waste & recycling results rank 32nd of 130.
Good results, lower cost · value for money rank 26th of 127
Planning value for money
Lambeth spends £1,069 per planning decision on planning, against about £402 expected after allowing for London's higher costs (£667 more). Its planning results rank 28th of 130.
Good results, higher cost · value for money rank 105th of 127
Financial health
Lambeth needed Exceptional Financial Support from government (2024-25 to 2026-27), so it ranks below every council that did not on financial health.
Reserves
| Measure | Lambeth | Median of 130 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usable reserves as a share of net revenue expenditure Higher is better | 32.5% | 33.0% | 67 / 127 | 2025-26 |
| Change in usable reserves over the year as a share of net revenue expenditure Higher is better | 2.2% | 0.4% | 50 / 127 | 2025-26 |
Debt
| Measure | Lambeth | Median of 130 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt servicing costs as a share of net revenue expenditure Lower is better | 17.3% | 9.7% | 113 / 127 | 2025-26 |
| Borrowing need (excluding council housing) as a share of net revenue expenditure Lower is better | 228.2% | 184.6% | 87 / 127 | 2024-25 borrowing, 2025-26 spend |
Schools funding deficit
| Measure | Lambeth | Median of 130 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-needs (DSG) deficit as a share of net revenue expenditure Lower is better | 0.7% | 8.8% | 17 / 127 | 2025-26 |
Government bailouts
| Measure | Lambeth | Median of 130 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exceptional Financial Support over three years as a share of net revenue expenditure Lower is better | 31.0% | 0.0% | 110 / 127 | 2024-25 to 2026-27 |
Context
Background figures. These don't count towards the score.
| Population | 314,298 | median 277,253 | mid-2025 |
| Net service spend per resident | £2,525.91 | median £2,026.28 | 2025-26 |
| Index of Multiple Deprivation average score | 23.041 | median 24.057 | 2025 |
| Families with children in B&B for more than 6 weeks | Not reported this quarter | median 0 | 2026-03 |
| Who runs the council | Green minority administration | 16 September 2026 | |
| Seats on the council | Green 29, Labour 26, Liberal Democrat 8 (of 63 seats) | 16 September 2026 | |
| Audit opinion on the latest accounts | No audit opinion signed yet. PSAA status: unsigned. | 2025-26 | |
| Years of the last three with no audit opinion signed | 1 | median 1 | 2023-24 to 2025-26 |
| Band D council tax (council element) | £1,536.60 | median £1,969.00 | 2026-27 |
| Band D council tax change on previous year | 5.0% | median 5.0% | 2026-27 |
| Band D council tax total bill (incl. GLA/police/fire/combined authority) | £2,047.11 | median £2,435.01 | 2026-27 |
Also responsible in Lambeth
These services are run by other bodies, so they don't count towards Lambeth's score.
- Greater London Authority: transport (TfL); strategic planning; police & crime (MOPAC); fire (LFB)
- Western Riverside Waste Authority: waste disposal
Councils nearby
The closest ranked councils by distance between council centres. Nearness says nothing about how similar they are.
- Southwark: 113th of 130, bottom quarter · compare
- Westminster: 66th of 130, lower middle · compare
- Wandsworth: 21st of 130, top quarter · compare
- Lewisham: 102nd of 130, bottom quarter · compare
- Kensington and Chelsea: 43rd of 130, upper middle · compare
Questions about Lambeth
How good is Lambeth council?
Lambeth ranks 81st of 130 single-tier councils in England overall, in the lower middle, and 18th of 32 London boroughs. Its likely range is 60th to 97th. Its highest rank is on service quality (57th of 130) and its lowest on financial health (98th of 127). Ranks are on official data for service quality, value for money and financial health; nearby places are similar, so read it as a position, not a verdict. How we score · Compare Lambeth
Is Lambeth a single-tier council?
Yes. Lambeth is a London borough (formally the London Borough of Lambeth), and runs almost all local services in its area itself, with no county or district council alongside it. A few services are run by other bodies, listed above. Who is ranked
ONS code E09000022 · How we score · Report an error · Changelog