Ecology reports: Transparency, Competency and Codes of Practice

 

 

Biodiversity Checklist Hook park, Ecologist qualifications

Kingston Council and Ecology Requirements

Kingston also references professional competence in its ecology-related planning guidance, often aligned with:

  • The NPPF

  • Natural England standing advice

  • BS42020:2013 Biodiversity – Code of Practice

These documents collectively emphasise that ecological information must be prepared by a competent professional, which Kingston interprets as:

An ecologist who can demonstrate competence, normally through CIEEM membership and relevant experience

In professional practice, CIEEM guidance is interpreted as requiring that:

Ecological reports name the author(s)
The author(s)’ qualifications and/or CIEEM membership grade are stated
This information is normally included:

  • On the report title page, or
  •  In a “Personnel” or “Author details” section

Failure to do so can be challenged as non-compliant with CIEEM guidance, particularly in planning and appeal contexts.
 

The CIEEM Competency Framework reinforces the same principle by stating that:

  • Professional outputs must be traceable to individuals

  • Competence must be demonstrable, not implied

This underpins the expectation that reports are signed and attributed.

So why are we seeing so many redacted reports with none of the relevant information and competencies? I have received a letter from the council as part of an FOI request for missing and redacted documents at Hook Park (see also) https://alisonfure.blogspot.com/2025/08/clayton-road-oaklands-close.html

'Please note reports are redacted to keep personal information confidential. If they were not
redacted they would not be made available.The raw surveyor data is not held by RBK but by the consultants undertaking the work on behalf of the developer and you would need to contact them directly to see if they would provide the required data. The various reports are what RBK receives as documents used to review the merits of the planning application.The documents on the website are all now readable (some documents would not open on the Council website).Tree, bat, PEA (part 1 & 2) , Environmental statements etc. a total of 162 documents are now available online'

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