At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Planning team to manage cases and provide trusted land charges information.
- Company: Supportive local authority with a focus on community service.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Friendly team environment with a mix of office and home working.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while developing valuable skills.
- Qualifications: Good education, attention to detail, and experience in administrative roles.
The predicted salary is between 27254 - 31022 € per year.
Join our supportive Planning team and help us deliver a reliable, responsive service across Development Management and Local Land Charges. You’ll work alongside Planning Officers, Enforcement colleagues and partners to keep cases moving, records accurate and information clear for residents, agents, councillors, solicitors and search companies.
This is a varied role where you’ll use systems and GIS to process work from start to finish, support statutory timescales and maintain high-quality, auditable records.
What you’ll be doing
This is a varied, customer-facing role that sits at the heart of how we process planning work and provide trusted land charges information. Working closely with Planning Officers, Enforcement colleagues and partner organisations, you’ll take responsibility for progressing a busy caseload through our systems, ensuring information is accurate, complete and handled appropriately. You’ll use GIS and spatial data to support checks and plotting, maintain robust electronic records, and help keep our public-facing information clear and compliant.
A significant part of the role involves coordinating and issuing Local Land Charges searches (including CON29 and EIR), from setting up cases and capturing responses through to producing results within required timescales, as well as maintaining the Local Land Charges Register and completing registrations with HM Land Registry. You’ll also support related payments and financial administration, including recording receipts, resolving fee queries and processing refunds in line with corporate procedures. Throughout, you’ll provide helpful guidance to residents, agents, solicitors/search companies, councillors and colleagues, explaining processes and likely timescales in a clear and professional way. You’ll be part of a friendly team environment where you’ll also help share knowledge—supporting new colleagues and contributing ideas to improve processes and ways of working.
What we’re looking for
We’re looking for someone who is organised, accurate and confident communicating with different audiences, and who can balance competing priorities calmly.
- Essential
- Good general standard of education (including GCSE or equivalent English and Maths)
- Strong attention to detail, confident communicating clearly in writing and over the phone with a wide range of customers and colleagues
- Experience in an administrative or technical role within a planning, land charges, property, legal or other regulatory setting
- Able to handle a high volume of casework to deadlines while using judgement to spot issues and solve problems
- Confident using Microsoft 365 and willing to learn specialist systems
- Understanding of confidentiality and GDPR when managing sensitive information and maintaining reliable records
- Desirable
- Experience in a local authority planning or land charges team before
- Experience using systems such as Acolaid (or similar), corporate GIS tools, gazetteer/LLPG systems or HM Land Registry portals
- Knowledge of local land charges rules and processes, experience with redaction of planning representations, or familiarity with planning fees and income coding
- Willingness to pick up new processes quickly and enjoy developing skills in a supportive team environment
Working Pattern
Mixture of office and home working, with flexibility to meet service demands.
Planning Technician and Local Land Charges Officer in St Leonards employer: Hastings Borough Council
Join our dedicated Planning team, where we prioritise a supportive work culture that fosters collaboration and professional growth. As a Planning Technician and Local Land Charges Officer, you'll enjoy a flexible working pattern that balances office and home working, alongside opportunities to enhance your skills in a dynamic environment. With a commitment to delivering high-quality services and maintaining clear communication with various stakeholders, this role offers a meaningful career path in local government, making a positive impact on the community.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Planning Technician and Local Land Charges Officer in St Leonards
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the planning and land charges field on LinkedIn or at local events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the organisation and its projects. Show us you’re genuinely interested in their work and how you can contribute to their team. Tailor your answers to reflect their values and needs.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family, focusing on common questions in planning roles. This will help you feel more confident and articulate when it’s your turn in the hot seat.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Planning Technician and Local Land Charges Officer in St Leonards
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the role of Planning Technician & Local Land Charges Officer. We want to see how you can contribute to our team, so don’t hold back on showcasing relevant examples!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to communicate your qualifications and experiences, as this role involves a lot of communication with various stakeholders. Remember, clarity is key!
Show Your Organisational Skills:Since this role requires managing a busy caseload, make sure to demonstrate your organisational abilities in your application. Share specific instances where you’ve successfully handled multiple tasks or projects at once—this will show us you can thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hastings Borough Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on local land charges rules and planning processes. Familiarise yourself with GIS tools and any specific systems mentioned in the job description, like Acolaid. This will show that you're not just interested in the role but also prepared to hit the ground running.
✨Show Off Your Communication Skills
Since this role involves a lot of customer interaction, practice how you explain complex information clearly and concisely. Think about examples where you've successfully communicated with different audiences, whether it's residents, agents, or colleagues. This will demonstrate your ability to handle diverse queries effectively.
✨Demonstrate Your Organisational Skills
Prepare to discuss how you manage competing priorities and deadlines. Bring examples from past experiences where you’ve juggled multiple tasks while maintaining accuracy. This will highlight your ability to handle a busy caseload, which is crucial for this position.
✨Be Ready to Problem-Solve
Think of instances where you've identified issues and come up with solutions, especially in an administrative or technical context. This could involve anything from resolving fee queries to ensuring compliance with GDPR. Showing your problem-solving skills will reassure them that you can handle the challenges of the role.
