Content

To extend our existing contract
for ecology support services for a further 12 months.

Reasons for the decision

G2V Group is a specialist recruitment agency that successfully
sourced a Principal Ecologist for the Council earlier in 2025,
following an unsuccessful recruitment exercise via Comensura. Since
January 2025, the appointed consultant has provided high-quality
ecological advice, supporting a wide range of statutory and
strategic planning functions.

The role includes providing specialist input on Biodiversity Net
Gain (BNG) requirements, reviewing planning applications for
potential ecological impacts, and supporting the Council’s
engagement with Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects
(NSIPs), including the proposed Fens Reservoir. This work is
essential to the Council’s ability to meet its statutory
ecological duties, including:

Compliance with the
Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, through the
identification and assessment of impacts on protected species and
designated sites.
Delivery of Biodiversity
Net Gain, a legal requirement from November 2023 under the
Environment Act 2021.
Fulfilment of duties under
the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006,
particularly the requirement to conserve biodiversity.
Undertaking Habitats
Regulations Assessments (HRAs) and Ecological Impact Assessments
(EcIAs) as part of the planning
process.
Supporting Appropriate
Assessment processes where development proposals may affect
internationally designated sites.

The temporary ecology post was established to maintain capacity
while the Council explored the potential for a permanent role,
potentially funded in part through planning fees associated with
NSIPs. However, ongoing uncertainty arising from local government
restructuring, together with delays in finalising Planning
Performance Agreements (PPAs), has meant that it has not been
possible to fully assess the feasibility or funding model for a
permanent post at this time.

The consultant has developed effective working relationships with
internal services and external partners, attended technical
briefings, and reviewed specialist evidence that informs the
Council’s responses to major infrastructure proposals.
Continuity of this specialist input is critical to ensure that the
Council can respond to evolving proposals with appropriate pace,
technical robustness, and confidence.

Over the coming year, the Council will be required to respond to
a number of statutory and non-statutory
Development Consent Order (DCO) consultations. In parallel, the
Council is actively participating in ecology-focused technical
working groups relating to habitat management, site master
planning, and mitigation design. Ongoing ecological input is also
required to support development management casework and emerging
planning policy documents, including the Local Plan.

Without continued access to specialist ecological expertise, there
is a risk that the Council will be unable to engage effectively in
these processes. This could lead to adverse ecological outcomes,
reduced environmental protection, and diminished quality and
resilience of new development.
While there is a recognised need for
longer-term continuity, particularly for multi-year projects such
as the Fens Reservoir, any longer-term arrangement would be subject
to a competitive procurement process. This decision therefore
relates to a medium-term contract extension to ensure service
continuity while long-term delivery options are assessed.

Alternative options considered

Option 1: No Further Specialist Ecology Support

Under this option, the Council would not extend the current
contract and would operate without dedicated specialist ecological
support.

This option is not considered appropriate. The Council has ongoing
statutory responsibilities in relation to biodiversity, protected
species, and designated sites, alongside a growing workload linked
to development management, plan-making, Biodiversity Net Gain
implementation, and Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects.
Without specialist ecology input, there is a significant risk that
the Council would be unable to respond adequately or within
required timescales to planning applications, statutory
consultations, and Development Consent Order processes. This could
result in non-compliance with legislative duties, increased legal
risk, delays to decision-making, and potential adverse
environmental outcomes. The absence of specialist advice would also
place unsustainable pressure on existing staff who do not hold the
required technical expertise.

Option 2: Procure Ecology Support from an Alternative Provider

This option would involve sourcing ecology support from a different
consultancy or provider through a new procurement exercise.
This option is not considered appropriate at
this time. The current provider has an established understanding of
the Council’s policy context, local environmental
constraints, and major infrastructure proposals, including ongoing
NSIP-related work. Transitioning to a new provider would result in
a loss of continuity, require additional time for familiarisation,
and risk delays during a period of high consultation activity and
time-sensitive statutory responses. In addition, a procurement
exercise would introduce further delay and resource demands at a
time when the requirement is for immediate and consistent
specialist support. Given that the proposed contract extension is
short-term and intended to maintain continuity while medium-term
service delivery options are assessed, a change of provider would
not offer a proportionate or efficient solution.