Brecon Beacons National Park Authority

Job Purpose: To investigate, research, analyse, negotiate and resolve alleged breaches of planning control and planning enforcement matters.

Main Duties:

• Act as the case officer for a range of planning enforcement investigations.
• Investigation of alleged breaches of planning control, listed building control and advertisement control, also breaches of hedgerow regulations and tree preservation orders.
• Investigation of compliance with relevant permissions, including compliance with conditions and approved plans.
• Analyse and interpret information in relation to statutes, planning policy, circulars, TAN’s, site history, case law and precedent to determine whether a breach of planning law exists and to take appropriate action to remedy the breach as appropriate.
• Investigation of compliance with enforcement and other related notices.
• Set up and attend site visits to further the investigation of alleged breaches and monitor planning permissions and conditions and section 106 agreements and to act in a professional manner at all times, including being aware of your personal and others health and safety.
• Assist with the proactive monitoring of planning permissions and conditions and whether development commenced has a relevant permission.
• Draft delegated and Committee decision reports on individual cases as directed and to report individual cases to Committee when required.
• Preparation of statements of evidence and appearance as a witness at court hearings and inquiries where appropriate.
• Interview complainants, witnesses and alleged offenders and where appropriate interview under caution using PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984).
• Operating a computer based system relating to planning and enforcement.
• Any other duty, appropriate to the grade and nature of the post as required by the Head of Development Management.

Essential Criteria:

• Degree or equivalent in a relevant subject.
• Extensive experience of planning matters including planning enforcement.
• Organisational and interpersonal skills including handling difficult situations and negotiations.
• Knowledge of planning legislation, policies and investigative/legal procedures.
• Ability to interpret maps and plans and technical planning documents.
• Ability to prepare complex written reports including making recommendations.
• Ability to use a variety of IT packages.
• Good inter-personal skills and ability to work within a team and on own initiative with minimum supervision.
• Welsh Language Level 1.

Desirable Criteria:

• Recognised planning qualification.
• Willingness to occasionally work outside normal office hours e.g. evening meeting or site visit.
• Full driving licence.
• Welsh Language Level 2.

Note on Welsh Language Requirement: If you do not meet the Welsh language Requirements specified, then the Authority offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these requirements during your employment with us.

Additional Information:

• Annual leave entitlement: 25 days per annum plus 8 public holidays and 2 extra statutory days, pro rata. Leave entitlement rises annually to 30 days per annum after 5 years’ service. If you transfer from the service of an outside Authority to the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, you are able to bring with you your accrued leave entitlement (accrued due to length of service) up to a maximum of 30 days.
• Pension: The pension scheme in place is a standard Local Government one; the employee contributes 5.5% (up to £16,500) which rises to 5.8% (£16,501) of their contractual hours worked and the employer currently contributes 20.9 %.
• Location: The position will be based in the National Park Headquarters in Brecon, but we operate flexible working arrangements and work/life balance is encouraged.

EEA Eligibility: EEA and Swiss nationals who are NOT eligible to apply for a right to work in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme must have some other form of immigration permission entitling them to work from 1 January 2021 onwards.