Planning Enforcement Team Leader

Pay Rate: £45.00 - £50.00 per hour

Location: Rochdale

Full time, 7.4 days per week; temporary until April 2027

Full Driving licence (UK) required

We are seeking a highly experienced and professional Team Leader to manage our Planning Enforcement team. The delivery of a high-quality, performance-focused service is a central priority of the Planning Service, and this role plays a critical part in ensuring those standards are consistently met. The successful candidate will demonstrate a professional, solutions-driven approach and the ability to operate effectively within a demanding regulatory environment. You will be expected to exercise sound judgement, apply a measured and flexible approach to complex problem solving, and manage a broad range of enforcement matters. You will bring proven experience of leading and managing a team within a planning enforcement context, with the ability to maintain performance, ensure compliance with statutory requirements and support the development of staff. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential, enabling you to engage confidently and authoritatively with members of the public, developers, elected Members and other key internal and external stakeholders. The role requires a confident and adaptable professional, capable of representing the authority at court proceedings when required. A strong working knowledge of ICT systems is essential to support effective case management and service delivery. Applicants must be able to demonstrate significant experience in planning enforcement and team management, alongside a commitment to delivering a robust, consistent and customer-focused enforcement service.

Key Duties

• To take the lead role in pro-actively resolving, or negotiating solutions, to major, high profile and complex enforcement cases (and related matters) including unauthorised uses of land and buildings and the condition of land and buildings, working where necessary with local communities, other Council services, partner organisations and external agencies and elected members.
• To lead on investigations of alleged breaches of planning control through the monitoring of development sites, including minerals extraction and waste disposal sites, to ensure compliance with approved plans and conditions of any planning permission, or terms of any legal agreement.
• To collect evidence, prepare correspondence, legal notices and files for delegated authorisation to proceed with any necessary legal action and to prepare prosecution files, and on occasion give evidence for Appeals attending as necessary public inquiries, court hearings or similar proceedings.
• To prepare and lead on the development and implementation of the enforcement plan and performance management systems to monitor and manage the performance of the Enforcement Team in relation to service targets.
• To maintain accurate records relevant to the Service and identify and implement business improvements to enhance customer outcomes and maximise efficiency.
• To ensure the effective enforcement of S106 legal agreements by undertaking regular S106 review meetings with relevant departments / budget holders, and working proactively with land owners and developers.
• Where required, to sign off delegated reports on enforcement decisions and related applications, consultation responses and other related decisions and reports for relevant committees, under delegated powers within the bounds of the relevant scheme of delegation, and if necessary, referring matters to the Head of Planning or Assistant Head of Planning as appropriate within the scheme of delegation or any other established protocols.
• To procure and thereafter instruct and manage external consultants, including specialists, for matters relating to enforcement cases, inquiries or hearing and prosecutions.
• To ensure compliance with relevant legislation and service quality management procedures checking reports, recommendations and enforcement notices to be determined under delegated powers, by Planning and Licensing Committee or other relevant committees or panels.
• To ensure the Council's Code of Conduct for Members and Officers dealing with planning matters is fully complied with.
• To write clear and professional reports of complex planning issues.
• To attend and provide professional advice on planning enforcement matters to be determined by the Planning and Licensing Committee, or other Committees, partnerships, public meetings or working parties of the Council, as may be required by the Service Management Team.
• To advise the public, developers, other professional groups, organisations and individuals and other Council Services, Members of the Council and Members of Parliament on development management issues and procedures offering advice and guidance, including the initiation of correspondence, on such matters in accordance with Service and Council policies and objectives.