Provisional (methodology v0.5). Weights and measures may change as more data is added. How we score

Rankings · London borough

Wandsworth

21st of 68
London and metropolitan boroughs
Upper middle

Likely range 10th–32nd. Stays in the upper middle in 59% of re-runs. How we work this out

8th of 32
London boroughs only
Top quarter

How Wandsworth scores

Bar length shows the share of the 68 councils that Wandsworth beats. Overall weights: service quality 60%, value for money 20%, financial health 20%.

Service quality

Planning

MeasureWandsworthMedian of 68RankPeriod
Major planning decisions made in time (24 months)Higher is better92.3%94.5%=44 / 682024 Q3 to 2026 Q2
Non-major planning decisions made in time (24 months)Higher is better89.8%93.1%50 / 682024 Q3 to 2026 Q2
Planning decisions in the financial yearHigher is better · context only2,0621,2472025-26

Source: MHCLG — Planning application statistics (PS2)

Waste & recycling

MeasureWandsworthMedian of 68RankPeriod
Household waste sent for reuse recycling or compostingHigher is better27.9%32.9%57 / 682024-25
Residual household waste per householdLower is better428 kg504 kg19 / 682024-25

Source: DEFRA — Local authority collected waste management

Complaints

MeasureWandsworthMedian of 68RankPeriod
Ombudsman upheld decisions per 100k residentsLower is better4.95.632 / 682024-25 to 2025-26
Ombudsman investigations upheldLower is better75.0%82.4%11 / 682024-25 to 2025-26
Ombudsman recommendations implemented on timeHigher is better75.0%74.7%=32 / 682025-26
Ombudsman recommendations implementedHigher is better · context only100.0%100.0%2025-26
Upheld complaints already remedied by the council before reaching the OmbudsmanHigher is better · context only20.0%15.2%2025-26

Source: Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman — annual review data

Children's services

MeasureWandsworthMedian of 68RankPeriod
Ofsted overall effectiveness (children's services)Higher is betterOutstandingGood=1 / 68latest at 2026-03-31
Ofsted sub-judgements (average)Higher is betterOutstandingGood=1 / 68latest at 2026-03-31

Source: Ofsted — Local authority inspection outcomes

Adult social care

MeasureWandsworthMedian of 68RankPeriod
Quality of life of people who use services (adjusted)Higher is better0.4030.416=49 / 682024-25
People who use services satisfied with their care and supportHigher is better62.9%63.0%36 / 682024-25
Older people still at home 12 weeks after hospital discharge into reablementHigher is better61.2%62.9%41 / 642024-25
People receiving long-term support who live in their own home or with familyHigher is better78.9%84.6%51 / 672024-25
People who use services who feel safeHigher is better71.7%69.8%26 / 682024-25

Source: DHSC — Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework

Special educational needs

MeasureWandsworthMedian of 68RankPeriod
New EHC plans issued within 20 weeksHigher is better100.0%68.3%=1 / 682024 to 2025

Source: DfE — Education, health and care plans

Homelessness

MeasureWandsworthMedian of 68RankPeriod
Homelessness prevented: accommodation secured for 6+ monthsHigher is better41.7%51.5%56 / 682025-09 to 2026-03
Homelessness relieved: accommodation secured for 6+ monthsHigher is better17.8%31.2%=65 / 682025-09 to 2026-03
Households in temporary accommodation per 1000 householdsLower is better30.07.064 / 682026-03
Families with children in B&B for more than 6 weeksLower is better · context only002026-03

Source: MHCLG — Statutory homelessness statistics

Value for money

Adult social care value for money

Wandsworth spends £515 per adult on adult social care, against about £513 expected after allowing for older people's poverty, how many residents are over 65 and London's higher costs (£2 more). Its adult social care results rank 47th of 68.

Weaker results, higher cost · value for money rank 37th of 66

Children's services value for money

Wandsworth spends £1,335 per child on children's services, against about £1,520 expected after allowing for child poverty and London's higher costs (£185 less). Its children's services results rank 1st of 68.

Good results, lower cost · value for money rank 26th of 66

Waste value for money

Wandsworth spends £175 per home on waste & recycling, against about £186 expected after allowing for deprivation and London's higher costs (£11 less). Its waste & recycling results rank 35th of 68.

Weaker results, lower cost · value for money rank 27th of 66

Planning value for money

Wandsworth spends £389 per planning decision on planning, against about £413 expected after allowing for London's higher costs (£23 less). Its planning results rank 45th of 68.

Weaker results, lower cost · value for money rank 29th of 66

Financial health

Reserves

MeasureWandsworthMedian of 68RankPeriod
Usable reserves as a share of net revenue expenditureHigher is better133.0%34.7%=1 / 662025-26
Change in usable reserves over the year as a share of net revenue expenditureHigher is better-7.4%0.3%60 / 662025-26

Source: Calculated from MHCLG Revenue Outturn, ONS population, MHCLG dwelling stock and planning statistics

Debt costs

MeasureWandsworthMedian of 68RankPeriod
Debt servicing costs as a share of net revenue expenditureLower is better1.3%9.3%5 / 662025-26

Source: Calculated from MHCLG Revenue Outturn, ONS population, MHCLG dwelling stock and planning statistics

Schools funding deficit

MeasureWandsworthMedian of 68RankPeriod
High-needs (DSG) deficit as a share of net revenue expenditureLower is better12.1%8.0%48 / 662025-26

Source: Calculated from MHCLG Revenue Outturn, ONS population, MHCLG dwelling stock and planning statistics

Government bailouts

MeasureWandsworthMedian of 68RankPeriod
Exceptional Financial Support over three years as a share of net revenue expenditureLower is better0.0%0.0%=1 / 662024-25 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.

Population339,859median 296,363mid-2025
Net service spend per resident£1,883.18median £2,139.022025-26
Index of Multiple Deprivation average score15.157median 26.2992025
Families with children in B&B for more than 6 weeks0median 02026-03
Band D council tax (council element)£517.70median £1,884.222026-27
Band D council tax change on previous year2.0%median 5.0%2026-27
Band D council tax total bill (incl. GLA/police/fire/combined authority)£1,028.21median £2,319.872026-27

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 Wandsworth

These services are run by other bodies, so they don't count towards Wandsworth's score.

ONS code E09000032 · How we score