The council's total reserves (usable reserves and unallocated general fund reserves) for each of the last five financial years

1) The council's total reserves (usable reserves and unallocated general fund reserves) for each of the last five financial years.

2) The council's total external debt for each of the last five financial years, including borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board or other lenders.

3) The total amount spent on external consultants and advisory services in each of the last three financial years.

4) The number of full-time equivalent staff employed by the council in each of the last five financial years.

5) Copies of the most recent:

5a) Section 151 Officer financial sustainability reports

5b) External auditor value for money reports

5c) Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)

6) The total amount spent by the council in each of the last three financial years on:

6a) communications and public relations staff

6b) equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives

6c) climate or net zero programmes.

7) Any internal assessments or reports produced in the last three years identifying financial risks to the council's long-term financial sustainability.

1. This is shown on the Statement of Accounts on the Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) website - https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/finances-budgets/statement-accounts - the total figure is on the Balance Sheet and broken down further on Note 12.

2.

• 2025/2026 - £442,830,899
• 2024/2025 - £449,134,899
• 2023/2024 - £457,438,899
• 2022/2023 - £467,767,899
• 2021/2022 - £476,121,899

3. Included external consultants for capital external consultants account code C02055, consultancy services curriculum A44060, consultancy services other A44065, performance management and advisory A44083

• 2025/2026 - £20,239,089   spend to date
• 2024/2025 - £11,156,855
• 2023/2024 - £9,471,350

4. FTE at 31st March each financial year:

• 2020/2021 – 4,105.71
• 2021/2022 – 4,105.40
• 2022/2023 – 4,207.22
• 2023/2024 – 4,504.41
• 2024/2025 – 4,865.43
• 2025/2026 – 5,037.85 (30th March)

5.

a. Page 48 - https://lincolnshire.moderngov.co.uk/documents/b27164/Budget%20Book%202026-27%20Updated%20following%20Council%2020th-Feb-2026%2010.00%20Council.pdf?T=9

b. 2024/2025 is the latest report which can be accessed via the Audit Committee meetings 21.7.2025 Agenda reports pack Item 5

c. https://lincolnshire.moderngov.co.uk/documents/b27164/Budget%20Book%202026-27%20Updated%20following%20Council%2020th-Feb-2026%2010.00%20Council.pdf?T=9

6.

a.

• 2025-2026 £2,152,842.
• 2024-2025 £1,920,532
• 2023-2024 £1,856,985

b.

• 2023/2024 - £21,010.45.
• 2024/2025 - £13,521.
• 2025/2026 - £5,278.

c. No Spend.

7. Budget Book 2026-2027 https://lincolnshire.moderngov.co.uk/documents/b27164/Budget%20Book%202026-27%20Updated%20following%20Council%2020th-Feb-2026%2010.00%20Council.pdf?T=9

Budget Book 2025/2026 - https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/downloads/file/9865/budget-book-2025-26

https://lincolnshire.moderngov.co.uk/mgCommitteeDetails.aspx?ID=553

The Overview and Scrutiny Financial Monitoring Reports are reviewed at the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, meetings, agendas and reports can be found at the above link