Job info	Job info details
Job title	Principal Planning 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	SPA37a

1. Key purpose of job

• To engage with land owners and developers with a view to ensure that key sites are developed in a timely manner and to act as a contact point to assist in unlocking any barriers to planning permissions being implemented and completed in a timely manner.
• To act as planning case officer for strategic major applications which are identified as critical to deliver in terms of housing targets and regeneration benefits.
• To work across corporate objectives to ensure the development of planning policy achieves the appropriate corporate goals.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• To help the Council adopt a proactive response to bringing forward appropriate development, which meets the targets as set for the service.
• To ensure that the objectives of the Corporate Plan are suitably embedded in planning strategy in the form of town delivery plans, which also acknowledge the strategic approach as set out in the Local Plan.
• To help to deliver the objectives of Neighbourhood Plans.
• The provision of a service that is more integrated across the local authority providing better and more effective outcomes for clients in Torbay.
• To ensure that innovative and sustainable partnership arrangements exist to ensure the effective delivery of services.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• To take responsibility for proactively encouraging appropriate development proposals by regular communication with the development industry, including facilitating development forums.
• Proactively monitor key development sites both allocated and with planning permission facilitating communication where necessary to seek to unblock any resolvable delays in the development being provided.
• To act as the planning case officer for strategic major applications which will normally involve structured pre-application negations (via a Planning Performance Agreement), the drafting of the planning report and officer recommendation and ensuring that planning conditions are discharged in a timely manner.
• To lead on the referral and or operation of the Torbay Design Review Panel including ensuring that the relevant panel terms of reference is fit for purpose.
• Keeping abreast of and knowledgeable about current and proposed legislation relevant to the job and to identify opportunities for improvement and innovation.
• To give advice and proactively engage with partner agencies to ensure that allied strategies and policies are framed to help achieve the objectives of town delivery plans in order to help achieve quality place making.
• 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.
• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are 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. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• The post holder has no direct budget responsibilities but will be required to ensure that any budgets relating to the heritage function at Torbay Council are properly spent in line with the Council’s standing orders.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• Supervision of two Officers and other Council Officers as part of a project team approach.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Mainly office based with minimal exposure to disagreeable, unpleasant or hazardous environmental working conditions from regular site visits or to people-related behaviour when attending public meetings and consultation events. Removed reference to Neighbourhood Plan forums as this is quite specific of its time.

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical effort.  

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Personal computer, mobile phone, camera.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

• The general public, land owners, businesses, residents groups, community groups including Neighbourhood Plan forums and voluntary sector.
• Statutory agencies including Natural England, Historic England, 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 Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
• 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	Principal Planning Officer
Strategic team/Directorate	Pride in Place
Service	Spatial Planning
Business unit	Development Management

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Self-motivated, productive, dynamic and innovative.
• Effective computer literacy skills (MS windows).
• Sound level of numeracy.
• Effective analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Presentation skills particularly in relation to presenting reports to stakeholders and the general public.
• Report preparation skills.
• Communication and negotiation skills.
• 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.
• Administrative skills, i.e. a thorough organised approach to work with the ability to prioritise and manage workloads.
• Able to see tasks through to a successful conclusion, meeting challenging deadlines whilst maintaining attention to detail.
• Contributing successfully to effective team working.
• Flexible approach to working hours.
• A conscientious attitude to work.
• Willingness to maintain and improve standards and performance through implementation of good practice and personal development.
• Commitment to customer focus.
• Able to effectively project manage a number of projects at the same time.
• Ability to demonstrate initiative and flexibility.
• High level of productivity.
• Skills in creativity.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English. 

Desirable skills and effectiveness

N/A

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of planning legislation, government advice and policy, circulars and guidance notes and awareness of general issues facing the planning profession.
• Knowledge of the development management process from cradle to grave.
• Knowledge of Planning Policy Development.
• Knowledge of heritage and design.
• Understanding of the importance of economic regeneration.
• Understanding of the role of sustainability, energy efficiency, design and other important planning considerations.

Desirable knowledge

N/A

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Relevant and demonstrable experience in Development Management including working with major development proposals.
• Demonstrable experience of developing planning policy.
• Demonstrable experience of work with the community and other stakeholders with regard to planning policy/ delivery.
• Demonstrable experience handling planning applications.

Desirable experience and achievements

• Demonstrable experience of dealing with urban design considerations.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• A Diploma or Degree in Planning at graduate or post graduate level.
• Chartered Member, or equivalent, of Royal Town Planning Institute.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

N/A

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West in order to carry out duties.
• Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
• Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.