(Image: Cumberland Council)Cumberland Council was the subject of 69 complaints escalated to the ombudsman during the 2025/26 financial year, of which, 12 were upheld and one was not. Despite seeing the majority of cases upheld in 2025/26, Cumberland Council's rate of upheld complaints is 4.3 per 100,000 people, lower than the average of 5.6 for similar authorities. Cumberland Council's spokesperson said that while the council's upheld complaint percentage increased in 2025/26, the actual number of upheld complaints remained unchanged at 12. The council spokesperson pointed out that "despite a 33 per cent rise in complaints received nationally by the Ombudsman in 2025/26, the number of upheld complaints relating to Cumberland remained static." Cumberland Council is responsible for the areas formally known as Carlisle, Copeland and Allerdale while Westmorland & Furness Council is responsible for the areas formally known as Eden; South Lakeland and Barrow-in-Furness.