Planning Enforcement Officer – AR

Job Description

Resident & Community Contribution

To ensure that the needs of the resident are reflected in the work undertaken.

To demonstrate understanding of the Council’s Customer Care Standards and ensure that these standards are met in order to deliver the Council vision of ‘putting our residents first’.

Operational Service Delivery

1. Make unaccompanied site visits, including those involving complex land use issues, immediately recognising breaches of planning control (including breaches of S106 Agreements, etc).
2. Decide on expediency and course of action, liaising with the planning Enforcement Manager (and Planning Service Manager) where necessary.
3. Write letters to contravenor and complainant, outlining Council’s course of action.
4. Be able to effectively enter into negotiations with the contravener to remedy an enforcement breach.
5. Understand relevant Planning Legislation including a detailed knowledge of planning Permitted Development Rights.
6. Write enforcement reports recommending service of a range of different types of enforcement notice, including where necessary notices under other Legislation including the Housing Acts (for Committee or under delegated powers).
7. Supervise service of enforcement related notices.
8. Positively contribute in the preparation of documents for appeals, including production of detailed witness statement/exhibits.
9. Appear at informal hearings and public inquiries.
10. Investigate and prepare cases to undertake prosecutions.
11. Undertake prosecutions through the magistrates courts and where necessary through the Crown Court.
12. Comprehensively understand enforcement/planning appeal decision letters, S106 Agreements and other legal documents.
13. Devise effective strategies to ensure compliance with enforcement notices with assistance from legal staff.
14. Using IT produce enforcement statistics as and when required.
15. Effectively liaise with other Council departments.
16. Keep abreast of changes on planning legislation and issues of Borough wide importance attending internal meetings when required.
17. Manage a large and complex planning enforcement caseload.
18. Work with the Councils Corporate Communications Team to publicise successful prosecutions.
19. Work on proceeds of crime cases (POCA).
20. To undertake any other such duties commensurate to the function and grade of the post.

Service Planning & Development

Maintain knowledge of the current Team Plan and understanding of own contribution in order to ensure delivery of this plan.

Financial & Resource Management

To demonstrate cost-consciousness and identify any cost effective changes to own way of working.

Continuous Improvement

To identify and suggest any improvements to current ways of working in order to deliver a more efficient and effective service for customers.

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Graduate in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience.

Evidence of CPD.

STATUTORY or ROLE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

Full UK driving licence and use of vehicle as required.

Sufficient mobility to undertake site visits.

EXPERIENCE

Demonstrable Planning Enforcement experience involving appeal work, prosecutions and service of a range of planning enforcement related notices.

Experience of working with a wide range of ICT packages.

Experience of serving notices under Housing or other enforcement related legislation.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

Ability to identify and implement innovative solutions to complex problems.

Knowledge of enforcement procedure and an ability to understand planning enforcement legislation.

Ability to interpret, assess and provide robust recommendations on a wide range of planning enforcement matters and planning applications, applications for Listed Building Consent, etc.

Ability to prepare and present evidence and present such evidence in Court or at Public Inquiries.

Able to confidently manage challenging situations which may involve confrontation, using negotiating and influencing skills to persuade others.

Ability to be decisive and articulate rationale for your decisions effectively.

Ability to keep to deadlines and to work accurately on your own initiative.

Demonstrable understanding of when to escalate issues appropriately.

Ability to learn and use a range of ICT software as required.

An understanding of the role of Elected Members.

If you are interested in this role please do reach out to me via email or telephone!

amberrayment@carringtonblakerecruitment.com

020 753 766 07