FOI release

FOI Council Spend on Climate-related posts

Case reference FOI2026/00655

Received 16 March 2026

Published 10 April 2026

Request

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide the following recorded information.

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

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.

UPDATE: I am seeking the actual costs of the occupied posts, preferably for financial year 2024/25.

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).

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

Response

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please provide the following recorded information.

 

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

 

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.

UPDATE: I am seeking the actual costs of the occupied posts, preferably for financial year 2024/25. 


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).

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

 

 

Answer: Please see the attached FOI2026 00655 Response Spreadsheet.

 

 

Documents

This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.

You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.