Rankings · Metropolitan borough
Bradford
Likely range 12th–38th. Stays in the upper middle in 69% of re-runs. How we work this out
How Bradford scores
Bar length shows the share of the 68 councils that Bradford beats. Overall weights: service quality 60%, value for money 20%, financial health 20%.
Service quality
Planning
| Measure | Bradford | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major planning decisions made in time (24 months)Higher is better | 86.5% | 94.5% | =61 / 68 | 2024 Q3 to 2026 Q2 |
| Non-major planning decisions made in time (24 months)Higher is better | 83.9% | 93.1% | 63 / 68 | 2024 Q3 to 2026 Q2 |
| Planning decisions in the financial yearHigher is better · context only | 2,322 | 1,247 | – | 2025-26 |
Source: MHCLG — Planning application statistics (PS2)
Waste & recycling
| Measure | Bradford | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Household waste sent for reuse recycling or compostingHigher is better | 30.9% | 32.9% | 46 / 68 | 2024-25 |
| Residual household waste per householdLower is better | 587 kg | 504 kg | 54 / 68 | 2024-25 |
Source: DEFRA — Local authority collected waste management
Complaints
| Measure | Bradford | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ombudsman upheld decisions per 100k residentsLower is better | 4.7 | 5.6 | 29 / 68 | 2024-25 to 2025-26 |
| Ombudsman investigations upheldLower is better | 80.3% | 82.4% | =21 / 68 | 2024-25 to 2025-26 |
| Ombudsman recommendations implemented on timeHigher is better | 90.5% | 74.7% | 17 / 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 | 18.5% | 15.2% | – | 2025-26 |
Source: Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman — annual review data
Children's services
| Measure | Bradford | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted overall effectiveness (children's services)Higher is better | Requires improvement | Good | =55 / 68 | latest at 2026-03-31 |
| Ofsted sub-judgements (average)Higher is better | 2.50 / 4 | Good | 55 / 68 | latest at 2026-03-31 |
Source: Ofsted — Local authority inspection outcomes
Adult social care
| Measure | Bradford | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality of life of people who use services (adjusted)Higher is better | 0.462 | 0.416 | =1 / 68 | 2024-25 |
| People who use services satisfied with their care and supportHigher is better | 71.0% | 63.0% | =1 / 68 | 2024-25 |
| Older people still at home 12 weeks after hospital discharge into reablementHigher is better | 62.7% | 62.9% | 35 / 64 | 2024-25 |
| People receiving long-term support who live in their own home or with familyHigher is better | 86.7% | 84.6% | 22 / 67 | 2024-25 |
| People who use services who feel safeHigher is better | 76.7% | 69.8% | 5 / 68 | 2024-25 |
Source: DHSC — Adult Social Care Outcomes Framework
Special educational needs
| Measure | Bradford | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New EHC plans issued within 20 weeksHigher is better | 88.0% | 68.3% | 14 / 68 | 2024 to 2025 |
Source: DfE — Education, health and care plans
Homelessness
| Measure | Bradford | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homelessness prevented: accommodation secured for 6+ monthsHigher is better | 68.1% | 51.5% | 9 / 68 | 2025-09 to 2026-03 |
| Homelessness relieved: accommodation secured for 6+ monthsHigher is better | 42.8% | 31.2% | 13 / 68 | 2025-09 to 2026-03 |
| Households in temporary accommodation per 1000 householdsLower is better | 2.6 | 7.0 | 25 / 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
Bradford spends £539 per adult on adult social care, against about £593 expected after allowing for older people's poverty, how many residents are over 65 and whether a council is in London (£54 less). Its adult social care results rank 2nd of 68.
Good results, lower cost · value for money rank 13th of 66
Children's services value for money
Bradford spends £1,841 per child on children's services, against about £1,687 expected after allowing for child poverty and whether a council is in London (£154 more). Its children's services results rank 55th of 68.
Weaker results, higher cost · value for money rank 48th of 66
Waste value for money
Bradford spends £151 per home on waste & recycling, against about £196 expected after allowing for deprivation and whether a council is in London (£46 less). Its waste & recycling results rank 54th of 68.
Weaker results, lower cost · value for money rank 6th of 66
Planning value for money
Bradford spends £60 per planning decision on planning, against about £632 expected after allowing for whether a council is in London (£572 less). Its planning results rank 65th of 68.
Weaker results, lower cost · value for money rank 7th of 66
Financial health
Bradford 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 | Bradford | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Usable reserves as a share of net revenue expenditureHigher is better | 35.1% | 34.7% | 32 / 66 | 2025-26 |
| Change in usable reserves over the year as a share of net revenue expenditureHigher is better | 11.1% | 0.3% | =1 / 66 | 2025-26 |
Source: Calculated from MHCLG Revenue Outturn, ONS population, MHCLG dwelling stock and planning statistics
Debt costs
| Measure | Bradford | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt servicing costs as a share of net revenue expenditureLower is better | 8.9% | 9.3% | 32 / 66 | 2025-26 |
Source: Calculated from MHCLG Revenue Outturn, ONS population, MHCLG dwelling stock and planning statistics
Schools funding deficit
| Measure | Bradford | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High-needs (DSG) deficit as a share of net revenue expenditureLower is better | 0.0% | 8.0% | =1 / 66 | 2025-26 |
Source: Calculated from MHCLG Revenue Outturn, ONS population, MHCLG dwelling stock and planning statistics
Government bailouts
| Measure | Bradford | Median of 68 | Rank | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exceptional Financial Support over three years as a share of net revenue expenditureLower is better | 55.6% | 0.0% | 62 / 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 | 557,758 | median 296,363 | mid-2025 |
| Net service spend per resident | £1,962.16 | median £2,139.02 | 2025-26 |
| Index of Multiple Deprivation average score | 36.713 | 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) | £1,965.28 | 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) | £2,360.73 | 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 Bradford
These services are run by other bodies, so they don't count towards Bradford's score.
- West Yorkshire Combined Authority: transport; adult skills; economic development; police & crime
ONS code E08000032 · How we score