Planning Officer

Job Purpose: To give professional planning guidance and to recommend decisions about planning applications and enforcement matters in line with the business needs; with particular focus on delivering the objectives of the Enforcement Team.

Key Duties/Responsibilities:

• To provide sound advice in respect of enforcement and planning law, policy and guidance, following standard procedures, best practice and corporate objectives.
• To critically appraise and recommend decisions on formal applications and enforcement complaints under planning and associated legislation (including those relating to listed buildings, conservation areas, tree preservation orders, advertisements, hazardous substances etc), together with any plans or supporting documentation supplied, to ensure compliance with appropriate legislation and approved policies.
• To support and where instructed, undertake the necessary enforcement actions, including but not limited to the serving of Section 215 Notices, Planning Contravention Notices, Stop Notices, Enforcement Notices, Breach of Condition Notices, Injunctions and High Hedge Notices.
• To provide sound professional planning input to the design and delivery of sustainable site and area based regeneration priorities, all in accordance with the corporate business plan and development programmes.
• To deliver programmes of monitoring, research or investigation necessary to support planning and enforcement decisions.
• To be a professional witness in planning and enforcement matters including preparing and giving evidence to public or private local inquiries, hearings, examinations or the Courts.
• To write and present reports to committees and other meetings as required.
• To support the duty system.
• To write published planning advice and information, including the Enforcement Plan.
• To support the monitoring of planning conditions, planning obligations and development in progress.
• To help businesses to develop and grow by giving practical advice about planning and other services and putting businesses in touch with others who can help.
• To help identify opportunities to invest in regeneration projects.
• To take a proactive and collaborative approach to work quality as part of a quality system.
• To do any other work asked for by the senior management team.

Performance:

• To compile reports as required, having regard to policy considerations, relevant consultations; site visits and other material considerations and to make reasoned recommendations.
• To prepare and present relevant reports for member and senior officer committees, groups or individuals as required.
• To design and maintain database systems providing for timely and accurate analysis.
• To write straightforward and more complex reports setting out reasoned recommendations about planning applications/enforcement cases, taking account of policies, the views of people consulted about planning applications, information from site visits and anything else that is relevant.
• To write reports when they are needed for Member and senior officer committees, groups or people.
• To record on planning computer systems, quickly and accurately, actions and information about the post holder’s work.
• To work with colleagues to take an active part in managing the Development Management Team’s work and performance, occasionally leading "work and performance" meetings.
• To work actively with others to achieve shared objectives.
• To update the enforcement register and planning obligations database.

Communications:

• To maintain effective communications to ensure that key stakeholders, both inside and outside the Directorate, are appropriately informed and involved in the planning process.
• To proactively engage with the development industry to raise the quality of development in the city; secure conformity with policy and best practice and facilitate the speedy and efficient operations of statutory planning systems.
• To ensure that the Planning Services Division fosters positive relationships with its own staff, customers, members, the rest of the Directorate, other directorates, outside partners and the media.
• To deliver public engagement exercises including attendance at public meetings, exhibitions and regular community meetings, as required.
• To utilise pre-designed programs on computing and associated equipment.
• To communicate effectively with public, private and voluntary sector organisations to make sure that they have the information they need and are engaged in the planning process.
• To work actively with developers to help make sure that the planning system works quickly and efficiently and that developments are high quality and keep to policy and best practice.
• To help the Development Management Team build positive relationships in the team, with its customers, with Members, with partners and with the media.
• To embrace and use current and new ICT systems, software and other technology.