Borough ecology and biodiversity resources
Received: 10 March 2025
Please could the following information be provided under Freedom of Information legislation in the format and units shown.Question 1: How many, if any, council salaried posts do you have which deliver ecology or biodiversity functions for the borough? Please report in terms of full-time equivalent for the most recent 3 years available, stating year given. Please include borough ecologists, borough biodiversity officers and nature reserve wardens and managers, and list nature reserve wardens and managers separately. (see table)Ecologist/Biodiversity posts (fte) Nature reserve wardens/managers (fte)Year 1Year 2Year 3 (most recent available)Question 2: Unless the answer to question 1 was zero, which of the following are areas of expertise/specialisms among your current salaried ecology/biodiversity staff?Expertise/specialism (yes/no)habitat managementhabitat surveyingbiodiversity net gain/net gain metricsmammalsbirdsreptiles and/or amphibiansfishinvertebratesfungiplantsAmended to on 06.05.2025 Please could you provide details of formal training received by the officer, paid for by the Council in terms of development for the role and a copy of the job specification which lists requirement for the role/s.Question 3: What was the borough spend on externally commissioned ecology, biodiversity or nature reserve management people resources in financial years 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24?Borough spend on ecology/biodiversity/reserve management people resources (£K)2021/222022/232023/24Question 4: Since 10% Biodiversity Net Gain legislation was introduced, how many person hours (to the nearest 10 hours) do you estimate have been spent a) reviewing Biodiversity Net Gain plans submitted with planning applications, and b) investigating and validating implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain plans?Reviewing Biodiversity Net Gain plans submitted with planning applicationsInvestigating/validating implementation of Biodiversity Net Gain plansEstimated person hours since legislation implemented