Rankings · Metropolitan borough
Bolton
Likely range 7th–23rd. Stays in the top quarter in 76% of re-runs. How we work this out
How Bolton scores
Bar length shows the share of the 68 councils that Bolton beats. Overall weights: service quality 60%, value for money 20%, financial health 20%.
Service quality
Planning
| Measure | Bolton | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major planning decisions made in time (24 months)Higher is better | 87.0% | 94.5% | 60 / 68 | 2024 Q3 to 2026 Q2 |
| Non-major planning decisions made in time (24 months)Higher is better | 87.4% | 93.1% | 56 / 68 | 2024 Q3 to 2026 Q2 |
| Planning decisions in the financial yearHigher is better · context only | 996 | 1,247 | – | 2025-26 |
Source: MHCLG — Planning application statistics (PS2)
Waste & recycling
| Measure | Bolton | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household waste sent for reuse recycling or compostingHigher is better | 48.3% | 32.9% | 7 / 68 | 2024-25 |
| Residual household waste per householdLower is better | 357 kg | 504 kg | 10 / 68 | 2024-25 |
Source: DEFRA — Local authority collected waste management
Complaints
| Measure | Bolton | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ombudsman upheld decisions per 100k residentsLower is better | 3.1 | 5.6 | 11 / 68 | 2024-25 to 2025-26 |
| Ombudsman investigations upheldLower is better | 82.6% | 82.4% | 36 / 68 | 2024-25 to 2025-26 |
| Ombudsman recommendations implemented on timeHigher is better | 14.3% | 74.7% | =64 / 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 | 9.1% | 15.2% | – | 2025-26 |
Source: Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman — annual review data
Children's services
| Measure | Bolton | 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 | Bolton | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of life of people who use services (adjusted)Higher is better | 0.436 | 0.416 | =13 / 68 | 2024-25 |
| People who use services satisfied with their care and supportHigher is better | 65.7% | 63.0% | =20 / 68 | 2024-25 |
| Older people still at home 12 weeks after hospital discharge into reablementHigher is better | 70.2% | 62.9% | =1 / 64 | 2024-25 |
| People receiving long-term support who live in their own home or with familyHigher is better | 92.8% | 84.6% | 7 / 67 | 2024-25 |
| People who use services who feel safeHigher is better | 63.1% | 69.8% | 63 / 68 | 2024-25 |
Source: DHSC — Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework
Special educational needs
| Measure | Bolton | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New EHC plans issued within 20 weeksHigher is better | 79.0% | 68.3% | 26 / 68 | 2024 to 2025 |
Source: DfE — Education, health and care plans
Homelessness
| Measure | Bolton | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homelessness prevented: accommodation secured for 6+ monthsHigher is better | 50.1% | 51.5% | 38 / 68 | 2025-09 to 2026-03 |
| Homelessness relieved: accommodation secured for 6+ monthsHigher is better | 25.3% | 31.2% | 51 / 68 | 2025-09 to 2026-03 |
| Households in temporary accommodation per 1000 householdsLower is better | 1.7 | 7.0 | 20 / 68 | 2026-03 |
| Families with children in B&B for more than 6 weeksLower is better · context only | 0 | 0 | – | 2026-03 |
Value for money
Adult social care value for money
Bolton spends £583 per adult on adult social care, against about £606 expected after allowing for older people's poverty, how many residents are over 65 and whether a council is in London (£23 less). Its adult social care results rank 11th of 68.
Good results, lower cost · value for money rank 25th of 66
Children's services value for money
Bolton spends £1,469 per child on children's services, against about £1,664 expected after allowing for child poverty and whether a council is in London (£194 less). Its children's services results rank 45th of 68.
Weaker results, lower cost · value for money rank 25th of 66
Waste value for money
Bolton spends £213 per home on waste & recycling, against about £189 expected after allowing for deprivation and whether a council is in London (£24 more). Its waste & recycling results rank 6th of 68.
Good results, higher cost · value for money rank 45th of 66
Planning value for money
Bolton spends £277 per planning decision on planning, against about £632 expected after allowing for whether a council is in London (£355 less). Its planning results rank 61st of 68.
Weaker results, lower cost · value for money rank 13th of 66
Financial health
Reserves
| Measure | Bolton | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usable reserves as a share of net revenue expenditureHigher is better | 51.2% | 34.7% | 17 / 66 | 2025-26 |
| Change in usable reserves over the year as a share of net revenue expenditureHigher is better | -0.9% | 0.3% | 39 / 66 | 2025-26 |
Source: Calculated from MHCLG Revenue Outturn, ONS population, MHCLG dwelling stock and planning statistics
Debt costs
| Measure | Bolton | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt servicing costs as a share of net revenue expenditureLower is better | 5.4% | 9.3% | 17 / 66 | 2025-26 |
Source: Calculated from MHCLG Revenue Outturn, ONS population, MHCLG dwelling stock and planning statistics
Schools funding deficit
| Measure | Bolton | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-needs (DSG) deficit as a share of net revenue expenditureLower is better | 6.1% | 8.0% | 26 / 66 | 2025-26 |
Source: Calculated from MHCLG Revenue Outturn, ONS population, MHCLG dwelling stock and planning statistics
Government bailouts
| Measure | Bolton | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exceptional Financial Support over three years as a share of net revenue expenditureLower is better | 0.0% | 0.0% | =1 / 66 | 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 | 309,732 | median 296,363 | mid-2025 |
| Net service spend per resident | £2,141.41 | median £2,139.02 | 2025-26 |
| Index of Multiple Deprivation average score | 31.410 | median 26.299 | 2025 |
| Families with children in B&B for more than 6 weeks | 0 | median 0 | 2026-03 |
| Band D council tax (council element) | £1,953.08 | 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) | £2,399.74 | 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 Bolton
These services are run by other bodies, so they don't count towards Bolton's score.
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority: transport; adult skills; economic development; police & crime; fire; waste disposal (all boroughs except Wigan)
ONS code E08000001 · How we score