Staffing Salary and Vacancies

Since the local election in 2024 there have been some publicised changes in directorate and role titles.

Clarifying this so that factual information is available please can you provide responses to the following points:

1. What is the Council's FTE staffing now compared to just prior to the election?

2. What is the Council's staffing salary total now compared to just prior to the election? Total actual salary spend please compared before and after election.

3. What is the Councillor expenses and allowances now compared to just prior to the election? Actual spend please if this is possible. If this is not yet available I'm happy to accept budgeted spend.

4. How had the number of consultants in use changed?

5. How had the number of locum/temporary staff changed?
6. How has staff retention changed?

7. How has number of vacancies across the council changed?

8. What is the current vacancy rate at the Council?

9. Has any staff training been withdrawn since the local election? Please specify with outline of content. What was the reason(s) for the withdrawal?

10. Has any new training been launched since the local election? Please specify with outline of content.

The below data is true as of when this Freedom of Information Request was received (September 2025).

The following table details consultancy spend per quarter for years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025. Please note this data includes schools.
 
1.  Please see table below

2.  Based on employees in the corporate Directorates (including LFR) and using the actual salary figure off BW establishment report:

April25 £186,385,659

October25 £192,368,796

Most of the increase is likely due to the pay award.

These figures do not include any oncosts.

3. At 1 March 2025 the expenditure on Councillor Expenses and Allowances totalled £1,341,577 for the 24/25 financial year. For clarity this was at the commencement of period 11 of 12 for the financial year.

At 1 September 2025 the expenditure on Councillor Expenses and Allowances totalled £614,736 for the 25/26 financial year. For clarity this was at the commencement of period 5 of 12 for the financial year.

4. 2023/2024 2024/2025
Q1 £580,460 £438,202
Q2 £1,103,881 £1,919,550
Q3 £1,247,147 £1,195,324
Q4 £2,093,763 £2,814,156
Total £5,025,251 £6,367,234

For detail regarding specific consultancy contracts this is publicly available - https://procontract.due-north.com/ContractsRegister/Index?p=527b4bbd-5c58-e511-80ef-000c29c9ba21&v=2

5.Please see below.

6. Please see below.

7. We do not hold a central record of current vacancies.

8. We do not hold a central record of current vacancies.

9.          No.

10.        No.