CUMBERLAND Council is inviting residents, businesses, and organisations to share their views on proposals for its 2026/27 budget.
Like all councils, Cumberland faces significant financial challenges, including rising demand for services, inflation which is above 3%, and changes to government funding. By law, the council must set a balanced budget, which means making sometimes difficult decisions about services and council tax.
Formed in 2023 after local government in Cumbria was reorganised, the council has put in place a transformation plan to help it get on a more sustainable financial footing. This has already meant some £55 million in savings being made. Through careful management this has been achieved whilst also continuing to improve services – including achieving a “Good” Ofsted rating for children’s services, repairing nearly 9,000 potholes in 2024/25 and introducing new bus routes.
To maintain essential services such as adult social care, children’s services, and waste management, the council is proposing a 2.99% increase in council tax and a 2% rise in adult social care levy which goes specifically towards things like residential care, supporting those recovering from illness, and services for those with learning and physical disabilities. Parish and Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner precepts are set separately.
Most people in Cumberland live in properties in council tax bands A to C. If the proposals to increase council tax go ahead, then those in a band A property would see an increase of £1.22 a week for Cumberland Council services, with Band C bills rising by £1.63 a week. For band D properties the proposed increases equate to a rise of £95.18 a year or £1.83 a week.
The amount paid in council tax for services provided by Cumberland Council remains around average for similar authorities and is slightly less than the average in the north-west of England. When including adult social care and parish precepts the average band D bill in Cumberland is around £200 less a year than the England average.
To help those on low incomes the council offers a council tax reduction scheme which reduces the bill for eligible households – with some people on the lowest incomes not having to pay anything. The scheme remains one of the most generous in the country and anyone who is not claiming it and thinks they may be eligible is encouraged to contact the council or check its website.
Cllr Barbara Cannon, Executive member with responsibility for financial planning and assets, said: “Proposing to put up council tax is never an easy decision to make, but has to be balanced with the impact on services and the people who rely on them if we didn’t do it.
"We are very aware of the pressures on household budgets across Cumberland which is why we offer support through the council tax reduction scheme. I would encourage anyone who thinks they might be eligible but doesn’t currently benefit from it, to make sure they apply today.
“We have made millions of pounds in savings over the past few years through our transformation work to make us more financially sustainable, whilst also delivering improvements to services. This work will continue.
“I would encourage everyone to have their say on our proposed rise in council tax for next year’s budget so that their opinion can be taken into account when we come to set the budget in the new year.”
The budget will include capital investment into Cumberland’s communities – including the continued regeneration schemes in towns such as Maryport, Workington, and Millom as well as the city centre of Carlisle.
For more information and to make a response go online at consult.cumberland.gov.uk before 30 January 2026. Paper copies are available at libraries and customer contact centres or by calling 0300 373 3730.