Value for money

Wandsworth Labour’s value for money record

Wandsworth Labour’s focus on value for money has allowed us to deliver the lowest Council Tax in the country while correcting decades of underinvestment and creating a fairer Wandsworth.

How we do this

The Labour Council has some of the highest financial reserves and lowest levels of debt in London. 

We make every pound of public money work harder for local residents with reduced waste and improved efficiency

• £14m saved through efficiencies, service redesign, improved contracts and smarter staff structures since 2022
• £10m saved every year through the Better Service Partnership
• £30m saved through smarter long-term service contracts
• £11m saved through improved recycling
• £3.7m avoided each year in homelessness costs through early intervention.
• High-quality service costs 25% lower than neighbouring London boroughs

We stand up to property developers by collecting £230m of developer taxes since 2022. The Tories kept this money locked in a handful of wealthy areas, we unlocked them and put the money to work for everyone. 

We have used developer taxes for

• New and improved parks and community spaces
• Leisure facilities and sports improvements
• Upgraded streets, pavements and town centres
• Community safety investments including CCTV
• Bridge improvements

By working with partners, not in isolation, we’ve delivered more services for residents at no extra cost. Because we believe it pays to work together.

Our partnership with Apple gives Wandsworth school children world-class digital learning

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library gives a free book every month until their 5th birthday

Springfield Park opened in the heart of Tooting, the largest new park in London in more than a decade, created through a partnership with the NHS.

Our commitment to value for money is independently verified

Under Labour

• Wandsworth Council has been recognised as one of the most productive councils in the country. 
• An independent MUFG review found the council’s investment strategy “outperforms” councils across the country, delivering some of the strongest returns in London (5.10% in 2024/25 and 4.48% so far in 2025/26), alongside confirming high financial reserves and low debt.
• An LGA independent review praised Wandsworth as a strong-performing Inner London borough, highlighting sound financial management, tight financial controls and the country’s lowest Council Tax.