Job Description

Job info	Job info details
Job title	Senior Planning Enforcement Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Pride in Place
Service	Spatial Planning
Business unit	Development Management
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Service Manager - Development Management
Accountable to (line manager)	Service Manager - Development Management
Salary grade	K
JE ref	JOT228

1. Key purpose of job

To lead the Planning Enforcement Team and deliver the aims and objectives of the Planning Enforcement Policy.
To lead on a range of enforcement cases, ensuring that they are dealt with in accordance with agreed performance targets ensuring that policy and legal advice is duly considered, and submissions and notices are signed off.
To assist and develop collaborative working with partners to improve working practices around the enforcement and resolution of issues in this area of work.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

To help provide a quality enforcement service which is timely, effective and proportionate and which meets the targets as set for the service.
To ensure all planning enforcement reports are dealt with in a timely manner.
To maintain and improve Torbay’s environment by ensuring compliance with relevant legislation and Council policies.
Specific interventions are developed and implemented to reduce the non-compliance with legislation and that effective outcomes are achieved in partnership.
The provision of a service that is more integrated across the local authority providing better and more effective outcomes for customers and clients in Torbay.
To ensure that innovative and sustainable partnership arrangements exist to ensure effective delivery of services.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

Support the Planning Enforcement Team and Planning Officers on a pro-active regime to ensure compliance with Section 106 agreements and planning conditions.
To lead on a range of enforcement cases, ensuring that they are dealt with in accordance with agreed performance targets ensuring that policy and legal advice is duly considered, and submissions and notices are signed off at the appropriate level.
Manage own caseload of enforcement cases and provide support for evidence for Examinations, Public Inquiries, informal hearings and appeals including those dealt with by written representations in relation to Planning Enforcement as delegated by the Divisional Director - Planning, Housing & Climate Emergency Place.
Actively engage with the local community and key stakeholders on a range of local enforcement and management issues and complaints, including attending resident’s meetings and responding to public enquiries and helping to address and close key issues through coordination with relevant parties.
Support the Corporate Engagement team to deliver the corporation’s key strategic priority, to support local communities affected by changes happening in their area.
Draft briefings, reports and presentations for internal and external audiences on behalf of the Divisional Director - Planning, Housing & Climate Emergency Place.
Liaise with adjacent LPAs on planning enforcement, compliance, monitoring of environmental impacts and monitoring of fire safety in proposed and completed developments in the area including with the Building Control, Environmental Health and transport teams as appropriate.
Develop professional relationships with external stakeholders, including businesses and applicants and participate as directed in negotiations and other communications as directed by the Divisional Director - Planning, Housing & Climate Emergency Place.
Work across professional boundaries and directorates to contribute to the development of non-planning strategy and the wider success of the Council.
Build and maintain relationships with internal and external contacts, to represent the Planning function, and the wider Council’s objectives in a positive, professional and engaging way.
To ensure that a customer focussed service is provided that strives to be innovative in its search for continuous improvement.
To ensure that Senior Managers are kept aware of all developments requiring their decision and reporting, whenever necessary, as required.
To provide the Council’s policy of Customer Care through the provision of a fair, efficient service, clearly explained to our customers and demonstrating a positive attitude in all aspects of work.
To line manage the day-to-day work of Planning Enforcement Officers including the allocation of work, mentoring and performance management.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

Some financial responsibility required when procuring works to resolve unauthorised works.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

Management of two Enforcement Officers.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

Flexible hybrid of office/home working environment however the post will also require regular travel to and attendance at site visits to investigate alleged breaches of planning law which, on occasions, may be in inclement weather and may require some out of hours working.

7. Physical demands of the post

Nothing physical other than walking around a site when on a visit/inspection.

8. Specific resources used by the post

Office equipment and IT to include mobile phone and a camera.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External:

The public.
Neighbourhood Forums and/or Brixham Town Council.
businesses, residents’ groups, community groups and voluntary sector.
Statutory agencies including Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, Safer Communities Partnership, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Services.
Architects, Agents and Developers.

Internal:

Officers within the Spatial Planning Business Unit.
Officers of other groups within the Council (highways, environmental protection etc.).
Managers and officers of other Directorates (e.g., legal services, estates, finance, housing children’s services etc.).
Members of the Development Management Committee.
Other Elected Members of Torbay Council.

10. Other duties

To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
The post is eligible for both hybrid and permanent home working.
You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Senior Planning Enforcement Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Pride in Place
Service	Spatial Planning
Business unit	Development Management

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

To be able to use effectively a range of modes of communication including, formal and informal reports and in presentations considering issues of confidentiality.
To be able to communicate with clarity, tact and purpose in all relevant situations.
Good organisational ability, particularly self-organisation, ability to see tasks through to a successful conclusion and ensure deadlines are met.
Willing and able to make own decisions.
Willing and able to mentor and advise line managed officers.
A democratic and inclusive style.
Pro-activity in seeking opportunities for development of skills and knowledge.
Initiative and commitment with a flexible approach to work.
Ability to develop and record rational and persuasive arguments.
Effective observational skills.
Working in a multi-agency environment.
Knowledge of PACE and RIPA procedures
Knowledge of PC based computer systems, including Excel and Word.
Driving Licence and/or immediate access to a car.
Ability to meet the needs of a range of customers including the public and manage conflicting demands.
To work as part of a team.
Able to convey information accurately and clearly in a manner which is clearly understood.
Assertion skills, i.e. able to determine and use behaviour which is appropriate to the situation and to exercise tact and diplomacy.
Able to see tasks through to a successful conclusion, meeting challenging deadlines whilst maintaining attention to detail.
Able to achieve and maintain a high level of responsibility for own workload and to assist in the management of the overall workload of the enforcement team.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

Ability to carry out accurate site surveys.
Knowledge of CAPS (Uniform) databases and Comino document management systems.
Able to work across organisational and professional boundaries and achieve results.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

Knowledge of planning legislation as it relates to enforcement of planning control.
RIPA and PACE legislations.

Desirable knowledge

Knowledge of planning development management process, policy and legislation.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

Ability to carry out site inspections and to have appropriate interview techniques to ascertain relevant facts, including experience of PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act, 1984) interviews.
Responding to competing and changing priorities.
Resolving problems with a high degree of discretion, sensitivity and advocacy.
Experience of dealing with a wide range of people in challenging situations.
Experience of partnership working.
Experience of producing reports.
Demonstrate experience of undertaking an investigation from initial complaint to a successful outcome.
Demonstrable experience of dealing with the public in a role such as dealing with complaints, enforcement and explanation of statutory/internal procedures.
Experience of preparing cases for prosecution and presenting evidence in court.

Desirable experience and achievements

Previous experience of a regulatory function, preferably in the context of local government.
Direct personal experience of dealing with architects / agents, Councillors, members of the public, developers, objectors and applicants.
Experience of producing reports.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

Diploma or Degree in Town Planning, Environmental subjects, or law at graduate or post graduate level, recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI).
Eligible for, or an existing Chartered Member of Royal Town Planning Institute.
Up to date PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act, 1984) training and rules of evidence.
Driving Licence and immediate access to a car to attend site visits as some sites are not accessible by public transport.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

Be eligible for or already hold technical membership of a planning related institute.
Up to date training in enforcement issues and relevant legislative requirements.
Recognised management qualification.

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. negotiate difficult terrain, e.g., building sites, manual handling etc.).
Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/Southwest/UK to carry out duties.
Flexible attitude to accommodating unsociable hours if possible.