How does the local authority access ecological expertise? Is it through:
a) in-house ecological staff within the local authority,
Yes.
b) through a Service Level Agreement/shared resource with another local authority,
No.
c) through a Service Level Agreement with another body e.g. Wildlife Trust,
Yes, a service level agreement is in place with Devon Wildlife Trust for the monitoring of County Wildlife Sites.
d) through other external expertise e.g. consultants,
Yes. Occasional consultants and temporary workers.
e) no access to ecological expertise?
N/A.