Planning Enforcement Officer

Liverpool City Council; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days holiday

Flexible/Agile working

LGPS AVC

Learning & progression

Health & wellbeing programme

Cycle to work

Car lease - salary sacrifice

Enhanced family leave

Gym discounts

Employee volunteering

Medicash

Job summary

Liverpool City Council is seeking a Planning Enforcement Officer to coordinate enforcement of planning control, conserve heritage, and enable appropriate development across the City. You will work in a customer-focused service and support the enforcement team with expert guidance.

You'll investigate complaints, collect evidence, and prepare reports for potential prosecutions, while advising on actions to address unauthorised development and ensure compliance with relevant legislation.

Qualifications

• Background in Town & Country Planning or equivalent.
• Experience dealing directly with members of the public.
• Knowledge of PACE, RIPA, CPI Acts and Human Rights legislation.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and provide expert advice on enforcement & planning control; liaise with regulatory bodies.
• Investigate complaints, record facts and prepare reports on breaches of planning control.
• Assist Planning Enforcement Manager with guidance to Development Management and advise complainants on actions for unauthorised development.
• Collect evidence, prepare statements and present the Council’s case in prosecutions in Magistrates or Crown Court.
• Advise on enforcement actions, breaches of control and remedial/expedient actions in line with notices.

Skills

Planning experience

Enforcement experience

Stakeholder liaison

Public sector

Education

Planning degree

Job description

Job title

Planning Enforcement Officer

A bit about us

Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic, and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We've got ambitious targets to meet and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our communities. Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents a real opportunity to make a difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of everything we do. Working at Liverpool City Council provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services. We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, as well as affordable housing, good schools, beautiful green spaces - there's really something for everyone!

The role

The role of Enforcement Officer is to co-ordinate and provide expert advice in relation to the enforcement of planning control. Conserve the City’s heritage whilst enabling appropriate development across the City to provide a modern, customer focussed, business friendly service.

• To assist and direct the statutory powers of enforcement and planning control, including the investigating of complaints, the monitoring of development and liaison with other Regulatory bodies.
• The investigation of complaints, the accurate recording of facts and the preparation of reports concerning alleged breaches of planning control received from councillors, council officers, interest groups and members of the public.
• To assist the Planning Enforcement Manager in providing advice and guidance to Development Management as required and advising complainant and persons responsible for breach of control of actions to be pursued/necessary in relation to any unauthorised development.
• As the Enforcement Officer you will collect evidence, prepare statements and present the Council’s case in respect of prosecutions in the Magistrates or Crown Court.
• The Enforcement Officer will give expert advice on the enforcement of planning control, including whether there has been a breach of control, the appropriate remedial action and the most expedient action in the event of non compliance with legal notices etc.

Your demonstrable knowledge will preferably include a background in Town & Country Planning or work in an area requiring the interpretation and implementation of legislation, significant experience of dealing directly in person with members of the public and knowledge of PACE, RIPA, CPI Acts and Human Rights legislation.

Our offer to you

• At least 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays rising to 32 after 5 years' service (pro rata if part time) - option to purchase further days
• Agile working (role dependent) - "Flexibility First" approach to agile working, where flexibility is the norm rather than the exception
• Part of the Local Government Pension Scheme - option to join the AVC Scheme
• Progression - opportunities and training through a wide range of high quality learning
• Health and Wellbeing - offer including Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work and Travel Pass Schemes
• Drive Time - a salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Family friendly policies with enhanced leave
• Discounted Gym Memberships
• Employee Volunteering Scheme
• Medicash

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early. Once the role has closed, you will not be able to submit an application, and we are unable to reopen the vacancy for you to complete it.

Equal Opportunities

Liverpool City Council is committed to fostering a workforce representative of the communities we serve. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe in appointing candidates based on their skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities. To support this commitment, we guarantee an interview to candidates from under-represented groups who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role.

If you require any reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010, such as an application form in a different format or additional time to complete your application, please contact us at [e-mail].

Eligibility to work in the UK and visa information

Eligibility to work in the UK will be verified in the final stages of the selection process. All candidates must either already have a right to work in the UK before commencing employment or meet the Home Office criteria for Visa sponsorship. Candidates who require sponsorship should evaluate the Home Office eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa before applying. Please be advised it is our understanding that this role does not meet the requirements of a skilled worker visa as set out by UK Visa and Immigration https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations/skilled-worker-visa-eligible-occupations-and-codes . For details regarding the salary of a skilled worker visa please visit Home Office: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/skilled-worker-visa-immigration-salary-list/skilled-worker-visa-immigration-salary-list This is not legal advice, and we advise you to seek your own independent legal advice tailored to your own personal circumstances.