FOI/EIR 25/26-519-Climate Change

Breakdown of expenditure on climate action

Request received 3 February 2026

From the current financial year's budgeted figures and the prior three years outturn (i.e. years ended 31st March 2023, 31st March 2024 and 31st March 2025:
1. Climate-related posts a) The number of posts (headcount, and FTE where recorded) employed by the council with job titles that include any of the following terms: Climate; Net Zero; Sustainability; Carbon; Emissions; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change; Climate Action; Climate Policy; Climate Programme; Climate Project; Climate Data; Climate Reporting; Climate Adaptation; Climate Resilience; Energy and Climate; Sustainable Procurement; Green Finance; Green; Climate crisis; Climate emergency.
2. Cost of those posts the total employment cost for the posts identified in Question 1, including salary and employer on costs (e.g. pension and National Insurance), as recorded by the council.
3. External consultants:
The total amount paid during the same financial year to external consultants, companies, or contractors where the expenditure is recorded under any cost centre, project code, budget line, or purchase description that includes one or more of the following terms: Climate; Net Zero; Sustainability; Carbon; Emissions; Environmental Sustainability; Climate Change; Climate Action; Climate Policy; Climate Programme; Climate Project; Climate Data; Climate Reporting; Climate Adaptation; Climate Resilience; Energy and Climate; Sustainable Procurement; Green Finance; Green; Climate crisis; Climate emergency.
This should include, but not be limited to, expenditure coded to professional services, consultancy, advisory services, or specialist support.
If the council does not record expenditure in this way, please provide the closest equivalent recorded information held (for example, totals by relevant cost centre or project). If any information requested is not held, please state this clearly.
If figures are held only in aggregated form, please provide the aggregated figures. Estimates derived from recorded financial information are acceptable.
Please provide the information requested above in the following table format, where held: Financial Year Job Title Staff Costs including on-costs (£) Headcount Consultant Spend.

Responded 4 February 2026

1.
2022/23 - 1x FTE Climate Change and Natural Environment Officer
2023/24 - 1x FTE Climate Change and Natural Environment Officer
2024/25 - 1x FTE Climate Change and Natural Environment Officer
2025/26 - 1x FTE Climate Change and Natural Environment Officer & 0.6FTE Climate Change and Natural Environment Manager
2. As we have had one member of staff in a climate-related post in previous years, and in the current year we have 1.6 FTE, to provide this information would be providing their direct salary, which is personal information. This information is therefore refused under Section 40 Personal Information.

In respect of those requests that are answered in full, partially or the total refused, please take this as notice under FOIA, that we:
a) Consider the information as exempt from disclosure under the Act;
b) Claim exempt under sections of the Act:
Section 40(2) – Personal Information (ABSOLUTE)
c) State why the exemption applies:
(1) Any information to which a request for information relates is exempt information if it constitutes personal data of which the applicant is the data subject.
(2) Any information to which a request for information relates is also exempt information if—
a) it constitutes personal data which does not fall within subsection (1)
3.
2022/23 - £2,919.42
2023/24 - £3,243.74
2024/25 - £3,638.91
2025/26 - £0