Planning Officer - Enforcement in Sandford

Directorate: Housing, Regeneration and Operations

Section: Planning and Building Control

Location: Civic Centre

Grade: Level 10

Salary: £39,152 - £41,771 per annum

Hours: 37 hours per week

This advert is open to internal and external applicants.

About us: We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on-Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision. Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource.

The Role: Interested in improving the built environment and protecting our residents? We have a vacancy for a Planning Enforcement Officer within our Planning service. We care deeply about the integrity of the planning system and effective planning enforcement is critical in maintaining public confidence in what we do. As part of the role, you will be enforcing all relevant legislation administered by the service under the general director of the Principal Planning Officer. You will need excellent customer service skills and the ability to communicate effectively. The job is not all about serving formal notices; many breaches of planning control can be resolved quickly through effective dialogue. We are a friendly, hard-working team and have strong career development plans for our staff.

Key Responsibilities:

• Investigate planning enforcement complaints, identifying appropriate courses of action ensuring all relevant legislation is considered and followed.
• Interpret technical / legal information, plans and legislation and make an initial assessment to progress each enquiry based upon the information and evidence received.
• Taking formal action against unauthorised development through the service of relevant notices.
• Prepare and support documents required by our Legal Services to enable them to prosecute enforcement breaches.
• Support and mentor junior members of staff.

About You:

We are looking for a proactive professional who can hit the ground running. Specifically, we need someone with:

• Efficiency and Pace: You must be able to follow instructions clearly and work in a quick, decisive manner. We need someone who understands when it is expedient to take enforcement action and can move cases forward without unnecessary delay. You must have proven experience in drafting both delegated and committee reports specifically for enforcement matters. You will be skilled in the accurate drafting of various formal planning notices. You will hold a relevant degree and be eligible for RTPI membership OR possess a recognised qualification in planning enforcement with a track record of handling a varied caseload. Experience or an interest in heritage and listed building matters would be a distinct advantage.
• Communication: You will be a confident communicator, able to work independently when required and travel efficiently across the city.

Before Applying: Please ensure you have fully read the attached Job Description and Person Specification. This is a specialist professional role that requires technical experience and planning knowledge. To be considered for shortlisting, your application must clearly demonstrate that you meet the minimum essential criteria, particularly regarding planning enforcement experience and the drafting of formal notices/reports.

If you would like to have an informal chat about the position before applying, please contact Mr. Abid M Hussain (Principal Planning Officer) on 01782 231993 or via email.

STRICTLY NO AGENCIES: We will not accept any calls or emails from recruitment agencies or search firms regarding this vacancy. Please do not contact the hiring manager or the recruitment team.

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent.
• Hybrid and flexible working options.
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme.
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes.

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here.

For more information on the role, please contact Abid Hussain on 01782 231993 or via email.

Pre-Employment Checks: Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.