LANCASHIRE County Council's communications team spent £343,000 more than it should have done last year.
Finance bosses at County Hall revealed the department's overspend at a meeting of its cabinet committee.
According to a report the reason was "the planned use of balances on a number of initiatives".
Conservative leader Michael Welsh called on the ruling Labour group to give a full explanation about the spending.
The county council was unable to give a complete breakdown but an officer at the meeting said the £343,000 was made up of different "initiatives".
These included £22,000 on new software, £15,000 more was given to the council's Vision newspaper, after it failed to meet its income targets, a further £75,000 went on marketing and £85,000 was given to business support.
Overall Lancashire only spent £12,000 more on its revenue budget than it planned to.
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