News from the Ombudsman - special edition

News from the Ombudsman - Special edition

Welcome...

Welcome to a special edition of News from the Ombudsman. In this edition you can read about our annual review of local government complaints for 2025-2026.

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Our biggest year yet - and what it means for local services

Sad child in Bed and Breakfast

Our Annual Review of Local Government Complaints is out today.

We received 27,625 complaints in 2025-26, a 33% rise on last year and the steepest increase in a decade, spanning every service area. Behind every number is someone who felt they had nowhere else to turn.

We’re calling on council leaders to grab the opportunities local government reorganisation offers to fix the issues that are systemic in the current landscape. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and local leaders must not waste it.

The report also highlights some good news: complaints resolved well by councils rose by 20%, and authorities act on our recommendations in 99.9% of cases.

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