Job Description

Job info	Job info details
Job title	Planning Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Place
Service	Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency
Business unit	Development Management
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Service Manager Development Management
Accountable to (line manager)	Service Manager Development Management
Salary grade	I
JE ref	SPA42

1. Key purpose of job

To process an individual caseload of planning and other planning related applications. Provide professional advice on a range of planning related matters. Contribute to the effective delivery of the Development Management Service.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

To assist in the provision of an efficient, effective and professional Development Management Service that, as a minimum, meets National and Local performance targets and delivers high quality outcomes for the Bay.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

Processing of all types of planning, advertisement and Listed Building applications. Undertake site visits, consultations, negotiations, presentations and reports (e.g. to Planning Committee) as necessary, giving particular emphasis to integrated delivery of Local Plan, Neighbourhood Plans, masterplan objectives and regeneration projects.
Preparing reports and making recommendations on planning applications for consideration by Principal Planning Officers and/or the Service Manager, attending Planning Committee and other meetings as required and ensuring the highest professional standards of public service are achieved.
Take a proactive approach to encourage and support economic regeneration and prosperity in the Bay and provide advice on the way in which the planning system can help deliver those objectives. Give advice on the merits of proposed developments and dealing with general correspondence on planning related matters.
Dealing with post –decision matters such as discharge of conditions, advising on re – submissions and minor amendments (if appropriate).
Inform and influence the formulation of policies forming part of the Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plans.
Negotiating heads of terms of and obtaining maximum benefit for the community, through the preparation of legal Section106 agreements or Statutory Obligations during the development process.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

The post holder has no direct budget responsibilities.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

None.
Post holder will report to the Service Manager (Development Management).

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

Mainly office based with minimal exposure to disagreeable, unpleasant or hazardous environmental working conditions from regular site visits or to people-related behaviour when attending public meetings and consultation events.

7. Physical demands of the post

The post will be office based with the need to use computer screens.
Regular site visits to application sites.

8. Specific resources used by the post

Regular computer use with relevant planning software packages, mapping and plan viewing/measuring programmes.
Use of primary resource material relating to the planning policy and information.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

Customers of the services (Agents, Developers, Applicants, Investors, service providers, local heritage organisations and interested parties).
Statutory and other consultees such as the Neighbourhood Forums, Highways, Devon County Council, Historic England, the Environment Agency and the statutory amenity societies etc.

Internal

Officers within the Spatial Planning Business Unit.
Officers of other groups within the Council (highways, natural environment etc).
Managers and officers of other Directorates (e.g. legal services, estates, finance, housing etc).

10. Other duties

To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
The post is eligible for both hybrid and permanent home working.
You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Planning Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Place
Service	Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency
Business unit	Development Management

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

Effective computer literacy skills (MS windows).
Sound level of numeracy.
Effective analytical and problem-solving skills.
Presentation skills particularly in relation to presenting reports to stakeholders and the general public.
Report preparation skills.
Communication and negotiation skills.
Able to convey information accurately and clearly in a manner which is clearly understood.
Assertion skills, i.e. able to determine and use behaviour which is appropriate to the situation and to exercise tact and diplomacy.
Administrative skills, i.e. a thorough organised approach to work with the ability to prioritise and manage workloads.
Able to see tasks through to a successful conclusion, meeting challenging deadlines whilst maintaining attention to detail.
Contributing successfully to effective team working.
Flexible approach to working hours.
A conscientious attitude to work.
Willingness to maintain and improve standards and performance through implementation of good practice and personal development.
Commitment to customer focus.
Ability to demonstrate initiative and flexibility.
High level of productivity.
Skills in creativity.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

N/A

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

Able to demonstrate knowledge of planning legislation, government advice and policy, circulars and guidance notes and awareness of general issues facing the planning profession.
Knowledge of the development management process from pre-application enquiry to post decision matters.
Understanding of the importance of economic regeneration
Understanding of the role of sustainability, energy efficiency, design and other important planning considerations.

Desirable knowledge

Knowledge of the Uniform planning applications software or similar systems.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

Relevant and demonstrable experience in Development Management.
Demonstrable experience handling planning applications.
Awareness of wider environmental issues, including climate change, sustainable transport and how the historic environment links to the wide corporate and national sustainability agenda.
Experience of presenting to planning or other committees. Experience of preparing and / or presenting evidence, as expert witness, for public inquiries and other hearings.
Experience in IT including Word, Excel and planning software packages.

Desirable experience and achievements

Experience of design and related issues.
Experience of handling a variety of applications including listed building consent.
Local Government or other public sector experience.
Direct personal experience of dealing with architects / agents, Councillors, members of the public, developers, objectors and applicants.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

Degree or diploma in Planning, Architecture, Geography or a related discipline or significant relevant experience.
Proven experience in advising on planning proposals.
Member, or equivalent, of Royal Town Planning Institute, or working towards membership, or an intention to pursue a career in spatial strategy or project management.