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
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).