Rankings · Metropolitan borough
Sandwell
Likely range 11th–39th. Stays in the upper middle in 34% of re-runs. How we work this out
Ranked on the data available. Sandwell's latest spending and finance return (Revenue Outturn) has not yet been published, so value for money and financial health are not scored.
How Sandwell scores
Bar length shows the share of the 68 councils that Sandwell beats. Overall weights: service quality 60%, value for money 20%, financial health 20%.
Service quality
Planning
| Measure | Sandwell | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major planning decisions made in time (24 months)Higher is better | 97.0% | 94.5% | 26 / 68 | 2024 Q3 to 2026 Q2 |
| Non-major planning decisions made in time (24 months)Higher is better | 95.8% | 93.1% | 15 / 68 | 2024 Q3 to 2026 Q2 |
| Planning decisions in the financial yearHigher is better · context only | 909 | 1,247 | – | 2025-26 |
Source: MHCLG — Planning application statistics (PS2)
Waste & recycling
| Measure | Sandwell | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household waste sent for reuse recycling or compostingHigher is better | 30.6% | 32.9% | =49 / 68 | 2024-25 |
| Residual household waste per householdLower is better | 635 kg | 504 kg | 61 / 68 | 2024-25 |
Source: DEFRA — Local authority collected waste management
Complaints
| Measure | Sandwell | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ombudsman upheld decisions per 100k residentsLower is better | 4.1 | 5.6 | 23 / 68 | 2024-25 to 2025-26 |
| Ombudsman investigations upheldLower is better | 80.6% | 82.4% | 24 / 68 | 2024-25 to 2025-26 |
| Ombudsman recommendations implemented on timeHigher is better | 58.3% | 74.7% | 52 / 68 | 2025-26 |
| Ombudsman recommendations implementedHigher is better · context only | 100.0% | 100.0% | – | 2025-26 |
| Upheld complaints already remedied by the council before reaching the OmbudsmanHigher is better · context only | 13.3% | 15.2% | – | 2025-26 |
Source: Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman — annual review data
Children's services
| Measure | Sandwell | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted overall effectiveness (children's services)Higher is better | Good | Good | =25 / 68 | latest at 2026-03-31 |
| Ofsted sub-judgements (average)Higher is better | 2.75 / 4 | Good | =45 / 68 | latest at 2026-03-31 |
Source: Ofsted — Local authority inspection outcomes
Adult social care
| Measure | Sandwell | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of life of people who use services (adjusted)Higher is better | 0.457 | 0.416 | 5 / 68 | 2024-25 |
| People who use services satisfied with their care and supportHigher is better | 63.9% | 63.0% | 30 / 68 | 2024-25 |
| Older people still at home 12 weeks after hospital discharge into reablementHigher is better | 55.7% | 62.9% | 56 / 64 | 2024-25 |
| People receiving long-term support who live in their own home or with familyHigher is better | 87.9% | 84.6% | 16 / 67 | 2024-25 |
| People who use services who feel safeHigher is better | 76.8% | 69.8% | =1 / 68 | 2024-25 |
Source: DHSC — Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework
Special educational needs
| Measure | Sandwell | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New EHC plans issued within 20 weeksHigher is better | 29.0% | 68.3% | 61 / 68 | 2024 to 2025 |
Source: DfE — Education, health and care plans
Homelessness
| Measure | Sandwell | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homelessness prevented: accommodation secured for 6+ monthsHigher is better | 82.6% | 51.5% | =1 / 68 | 2025-09 to 2026-03 |
| Homelessness relieved: accommodation secured for 6+ monthsHigher is better | 26.2% | 31.2% | 49 / 68 | 2025-09 to 2026-03 |
| Households in temporary accommodation per 1000 householdsLower is better | 1.7 | 7.0 | 18 / 68 | 2026-03 |
| Families with children in B&B for more than 6 weeksLower is better · context only | 52 | 0 | – | 2026-03 |
Value for money
Adult social care value for money
Revenue Outturn return not received in time for publication
Children's services value for money
Revenue Outturn return not received in time for publication
Waste value for money
Revenue Outturn return not received in time for publication
Planning value for money
Revenue Outturn return not received in time for publication
Financial health
Reserves
| Measure | Sandwell | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usable reserves as a share of net revenue expenditureHigher is better | Revenue Outturn return not received in time for publication | 34.7% | – | 2025-26 |
| Change in usable reserves over the year as a share of net revenue expenditureHigher is better | Revenue Outturn return not received in time for publication | 0.3% | – | 2025-26 |
Source: Calculated from MHCLG Revenue Outturn, ONS population, MHCLG dwelling stock and planning statistics
Debt costs
| Measure | Sandwell | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt servicing costs as a share of net revenue expenditureLower is better | Revenue Outturn return not received in time for publication | 9.3% | – | 2025-26 |
Source: Calculated from MHCLG Revenue Outturn, ONS population, MHCLG dwelling stock and planning statistics
Schools funding deficit
| Measure | Sandwell | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-needs (DSG) deficit as a share of net revenue expenditureLower is better | Revenue Outturn return not received in time for publication | 8.0% | – | 2025-26 |
Source: Calculated from MHCLG Revenue Outturn, ONS population, MHCLG dwelling stock and planning statistics
Government bailouts
| Measure | Sandwell | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exceptional Financial Support over three years as a share of net revenue expenditureLower is better | Revenue Outturn return not received in time for publication | 0.0% | – | 2024-25 to 2026-27 |
Source: Calculated from MHCLG Revenue Outturn, ONS population, MHCLG dwelling stock and planning statistics
Context
Background figures. These don't count towards the score.
| Population | 352,918 | median 296,363 | mid-2025 |
| Net service spend per resident | Revenue Outturn return not received in time for publication | median £2,139.02 | 2025-26 |
| Index of Multiple Deprivation average score | 33.772 | median 26.299 | 2025 |
| Families with children in B&B for more than 6 weeks | 52 | median 0 | 2026-03 |
| Band D council tax (council element) | £1,914.77 | median £1,884.22 | 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) | £2,244.46 | median £2,319.87 | 2026-27 |
What residents say
Ratings from signed-in visitors. They are shown here for context and are not part of the official-data ranking.
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Also responsible in Sandwell
These services are run by other bodies, so they don't count towards Sandwell's score.
- West Midlands Combined Authority: transport; adult skills; economic development
ONS code E08000028 · How we score