FOI Release: Climate Related Spend
Published: 06 August 2026Freedom of information class: What we spend and how
Information request under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA).
FOI reference: CW-2026-264
Date received: 22 April 2026
Date responded: 14 May 2026
Information requested:
Please provide the following recorded information from the last three financial year’s budgeted figures:
1. Climate-related posts
a) The number of posts (headcount, and FTE where recorded) employed 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.
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).
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.
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.
If complying with this request would exceed the cost limit under Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act, please provide advice and assistance under Section 16 as to how the request may be refined.
Please provide the information requested above in the following table format, where held:
- Financial Year
- Consultant Spend.
- Staff Costs including on-costs (£)
- Job Title
- Headcount
Response
To identify relevant information, RoS HR and procurement systems were searched for roles and expenditure matching the keywords specified in your request. Only the roles listed below were identified as meeting those criteria.
The information held by RoS is provided in the table below. Information for 2025/26 has been included for completeness.
| Year | Job title | Headcount / FTE | Total Staff Costs | Consultant / Contractor costs (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | Sustainability Manager (SEO) | 1 HC / 1.00 FTE | £51,169.80* | £4,110 |
| Sustainability & Climate Change Officer (HEO) | 1 HC / 1.00 FTE | |||
| 2023/24 | Sustainability Manager (SEO) | 1 HC / 1.00 FTE | £116,146.67 | £1,817 |
| Sustainability & Climate Change Officer (HEO) | 1 HC / 1.00 FTE | |||
| 2024/25 | Sustainability Manager (SEO) | 1 HC / 1.00 FTE | £127,495.57 | £995 |
| Sustainability & Climate Change Officer (HEO) | 1 HC / 1.00 FTE | |||
| 2025/26 | Sustainability Manager (SEO) | 1 HC / 1.00 FTE | £138,607.35 | No recorded spend identified. |
| Sustainability & Climate Change Officer (HEO) | 1 HC / 1.00 FTE |
*The lower staff cost for 2022/23 reflects that one post was filled for only part of the year.
Headcount (HC) and full-time equivalent (FTE) figures are shown as recorded for each financial year.
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If you have a question or query about FOI requests, you can email the information governance team at: FOI.Requests@ros.gov.uk.