Trustee -Planning & Strategic Negotiator - Volunteer

Sherwood Park Hall CIO is seeking a dynamic Trustee with a strong legal, planning, or high-level negotiation background. We are currently in a critical phase of development for the construction of our new Coffee Hub and Pottery Area.

The appointment of a Trustee with a background in planning, law, or strategic negotiation is the single most critical factor in the future success of Sherwood Park Hall CIO. We are at a pivotal "make or break" point in our development. Our vision—to create a vibrant, inclusive Coffee Hub and Pottery Studio—is a fully-funded project with the potential to transform our community. However, like many charitable organizations, we have faced significant administrative backlogs in the local council’s planning department.

Currently, our progress is stalled. This delay affects the community by delaying a safe space for social connection, mental health support through creative arts, and a sustainable revenue stream for the hall. Without a specialist to guide us, we risk momentum fading and our grant funding being jeopardised by missed deadlines.

This role will provide the "professional bridge" we currently lack. By joining our board, you will provide the strategic expertise necessary to navigate the complexities of local government bureaucracy. You will help us move from being a "file on a desk" to a priority project.

• Unlock Stalled Progress: You will help us identify the correct procedural levers to pull, ensuring our communications with the council are precise, professional, and effective.
• Mitigate Risk: With your legal or planning lens, you can help us anticipate potential hurdles before they become roadblocks, protecting the CIO from costly errors.
• Ensure Long-term Sustainability: The Coffee Hub and Pottery area are designed to make our CIO financially self-sufficient. By securing these permissions, you are directly ensuring the hall remains open for the next generation.
• Empower the Board: Our current Trustees are passionate community advocates, but they lack the specific technical vocabulary of planning law. Your presence will empower the board to make informed, confident decisions.

Ultimately, this role isn’t just about "planning permission." It is about social impact. By helping us navigate the "red tape," you are the catalyst that will allow our doors to open, our kilns to fire up, and our community to finally have the hub they deserve. Your expertise will turn a bureaucratic stalemate into a community victory.

What are we looking for?

Qualities And Experience Strategic Planning & Advocacy Trustee

The ideal candidate for this role will be a seasoned professional who thrives at the intersection of legal frameworks, local politics, and community development. As Sherwood Park Hall CIO navigates a challenging backlog within the local council's planning department, we require a Trustee who brings not only technical knowledge but also the "soft power" required to negotiate effectively in high-pressure environments.

Technical Expertise and Professional Background

• First and foremost, the candidate should possess a strong professional background in Planning Law, Property Development, or Public Sector Management. We are specifically looking for someone who understands the "inner workings" of a local authority. This might be a practicing solicitor, a retired planning officer, or a commercial developer.
• They should be intimately familiar with the Planning System.
• Experience with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and local development plans, including the ability to interpret technical feedback from council officers.
• Knowledge of how to use tools like Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) or formal pre-application advice to move a project forward.
• An understanding of the legal duties of a Trustee, ensuring that our push for the Coffee Hub and Pottery Studio remains compliant with Charity Commission regulations and our own governing documents.

Strategic Negotiation and "Professional Pressure"

The council is currently backed up, which means a standard "follow-up email" is no longer sufficient. We need a candidate with proven negotiation skills who knows how to apply professional pressure without being adversarial. This requires a "Strategic Navigator" who can:

• Identify Decision-Makers: Know exactly which department head or ward councillor needs to be briefed to unblock a stalemate.
• Communicate with Precision: Translate the "community impact" of our pottery and coffee hub into the technical and economic language that local authorities prioritize (e.g., section 106 obligations, social value, or urban regeneration).
• Diplomatic Persistence: Exhibit the "tenacity of a bulldog with the manners of a diplomat"—someone who can be firm on timelines while maintaining a positive long-term relationship with the council.

Interpersonal Qualities and Community Alignment

Beyond the CV, the personal qualities of the Trustee are paramount. We are a community-focused CIO, and the successful candidate must be:

• A "Critical Friend": Someone who isn’t afraid to challenge the Board’s current approach if a different strategic path would be more effective.
• Mission-Driven: Deeply aligned with our goal of reducing isolation and promoting mental wellbeing through the arts. They should see the "Coffee Hub" not just as a building project, but as a lifeline for the people of Mitcham.
• Collaborative and Resilient: Able to work within a volunteer board, offering their expertise generously while respecting the lived experience of our community trustees. They must remain resilient in the face of bureaucratic delays, keeping the Board motivated by focusing on the "long game".

We are seeking a technical heavy-hitter with a heart for community. The person who turns our "pending" status into a physical reality, ensuring Sherwood Park Hall remains a sustainable community hub for years to come.

What will you be doing?

While our vision is clear, the path through local government processes has been stalled by significant council backlogs. We need a strategic lead to help us navigate the complexities of planning permission, manage inter-agency communication, and ensure our project remains a priority for local decision-makers.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Advocacy: Act as the primary advisor to the Board on planning applications and local authority negotiations.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain professional conduits between the CIO, local councillors, and planning officers.
• Pressure Application: Identify and utilize appropriate levers (legal, political, or procedural) to move our application through the "bottleneck" without damaging long-term relationships.
• Governance: Contribute to the overall strategic direction and financial health of the CIO alongside the existing Board of Trustees.

Ideal Qualities & Experience

To unstick a project like this, the ideal candidate should possess:

• The "Legal Lens": Ideally a background in Planning Law, Property Law, or Surveying (RICS).
• Negotiation Prowess: Experience dealing with public sector bureaucracies and understanding their internal language.
• Strategic Patience vs. Persistence: Knowing when to be "the squeaky wheel" and when to offer a collaborative solution.
• Local Insight (Optional but helpful): An understanding of local political structures or previous experience with [Your Local Council].
• Resilience: The ability to stay focused on the end goal despite administrative delays.

You will be the catalyst that turns a blueprint into a thriving community space. Once the "red tape" is cleared, your legacy will be a physical hub where people gather for coffee, craft, and connection.