Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
Principal Historic Environment Officer |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Place |
Service |
Spatial Planning |
Business unit |
Development Management |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Service Manager – Development Management |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Service Manager – Development Management |
Salary grade |
36 - 39 |
JE ref |
PLA006 |
1. Key purpose of job
- To ensure that the Council achieves a consistently high quality of built development and public realm throughout Torbay.
- To act as case officer for major and/or complex listed building applications.
- To provide specialist historic environment advice on the protection and enhancement of heritage assets, urban design and the delivery of regeneration projects and planning policy and guidance.
- To provide specialist historic environment input into the Historic Environment Records (HER) and Heritage at Risk Register (HARR).
- To work across corporate objectives to ensure the development of planning policy achieves the appropriate corporate goals.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- Sustaining and enhancing the historic environment of Torbay whilst proactively working to enable regeneration and development and supporting delivery of the Corporate & Community Plan Thriving Economy.
- Delivery of the objectives within the adopted Heritage Strategy and Action Plan
- Efficient and effective determination of listed building and other planning applications impacting on the historic environment.
- Excellent communication and working relationship with key stakeholders such as Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund (Heritage Fund).
- That innovative and sustainable partnership arrangements exist to ensure the effective delivery of services.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- Lead on complex historic environment initiatives in order to secure positive and integrated planning outcomes, including where appropriate leading on planning, listed building and conservation area consent applications raising complex and strategic historic environment issues
- Provide specialist historic environment advice on planning, listed building and conservation area consent applications and preplanning enquiries to the planning consents process.
- Prepare cases for informal hearings and public inquiries and where required, present evidence as expert witness at public inquiries, informal hearings and other such hearings.
- Work with key partners such as the Torbay Development Agency to maximise the benefits to and of Torbay’s heritage assets within regeneration projects.
- Provide specialist historic environment advice on relevant Council led funding bids.
- Lead on the creation and maintenance of a comprehensive Historic Environment Record for use by the Council, members of the public and other organisations.
- Develop and implement policies and procedures to improve service delivery and performance within the Planning Services.
- Provide specialist historic environment input to the design and development of development plan documents
- Provide specialist historic environment input to specific multidisciplinary development partnerships and contribute to the development of strategies of other services and partners.
- Act as the Council’s lead officer on specialist advice relating to Historic Environment matters.
- Attend and present to public meetings such as Planning Committee and our newly launched Heritage Forum as required.
- Act as the heritage theme lead within Planning Performance Agreements.
- Proactively secure the repair of historic buildings through negotiation and the application of legislative controls.
- Work with the community to support local issues, features and places.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
- Delegated authority to determine officer reports for listed building consent.
- Mentoring/advising planning and planning enforcement officers on planning matters relating to the historic environment.
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- Attending site visits where necessary including private homes and building sites and requiring the use of suitable Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).
- Predominantly office and home working environment, however, the post will also require travel to and attendance at site visits to inspect and monitor development, on occasions, may be in inclement weather and may require some out of hours working e.g., attending Neighbourhood Plan forums, Planning Committees.
7. Physical demands of the post
- Able to access and move about a building site or similar which can include rough terrain.
- Able to occasionally climb stairs, use a ladder and/or visit confined spaces, such as a loft or roof space.
8. Specific resources used by the post
- Personal computer, mobile phone, camera.
9. Key contacts and relationships
External
- The general public, land-owners, businesses, residents groups, community groups including Neighbourhood Plan forums and the voluntary sector. Statutory agencies including Historic England, Heritage Fund, Arts Council, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Services, Brixham Town Council. Architects, Agents and Developers.
Internal
- Officers within the Spatial Planning Business Unit, Officers of other groups within the Council (highways, environmental protection etc), Managers and officers of other Directorates (eg legal services, estates, finance, housing children’s services etc), Members of the Development Management Committee, Other Elected Members of Torbay Council and TDA.
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 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 is eligible for both hybrid and permanent home working subject to manager approval.
- 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 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 www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
- 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.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
- As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
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 |
Principal Historic Environment Officer |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Place |
Service |
Spatial Planning |
Business unit |
Development Management |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Self-motivated, productive, dynamic and innovative
- 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 committee and stakeholders
- 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.
- Able to effectively project manage major proposals and the development of policy.
- As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post
Desirable skills and effectiveness
- Ability to demonstrate initiative and flexibility.
- High level of productivity.
- Skills in creativity.
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- Specialist knowledge of, and extensive experience in historic building conservation including planning process as it relates to the historic environment.
- Good working knowledge of relevant statutes such as the Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act, 1990; Town and Country Planning Act, 1990 (as amended), Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development Order)(England), 2015 (as amended).
- Able to demonstrate a detailed and wide knowledge of planning legislation, government advice and policy, circulars and guidance notes and awareness of general issues facing the planning profession.
Desirable knowledge
- Familiarity with the Torbay Local Plan and associated Neighbourhood Plans.
- Awareness of wider environmental issues, including climate change, sustainable transport and how the historic environment links to the wide corporate and national sustainability agenda.
- Knowledge of the development management process.
- Knowledge of planning policy development.
- Knowledge of urban design principles.
- Understanding of the importance of economic regeneration.
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- Experience of processing and determining application for Listed Building Consent.
- 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 preparing Conservation Area Appraisals / policy statements and an understanding of how they relate to development planning and Development Management.
- Experience in mentoring and/or advising professional staff regarding historic environment matters.
- Experience in managing a demanding and complex workload.
- Experience in communication and positively influencing people and/or organisations.
- Experience in IT including Word, Excel and planning software packages.
Desirable experience and achievements
- Involvement in preparing funding bids relating to urban regeneration and or the historic environment.
- Experience in regeneration and/or urban design projects.
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- Degree, or equivalent, in Archaeology, Historic Building Conservation, Town and Country Planning or a related discipline.
- Membership of a relevant professional institute, such as the Royal Town Planning Institute, the Institute of Historic Building Conservation or the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists or prepared to start the process of applying for and working towards such membership within 6 months of your start date for the post.
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
- Urban Design qualification.
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
- Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. negotiate difficult terrain e.g. building sites, manual handling etc.)
- Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay in order to carry out duties.
- Ability to attend evening meetings as necessary.
- Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.