Senior Planning Officer

JOB TITLE: Senior Planning Officer
DIRECTORATE: Built Environment
POST NUMBER: 417
GRADE: Scale 5
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Principal Planning Officer – Team Leader or Planning Delivery and Implementation Manager

LOCATION: City Council offices at Colebrook Street or other offices of the City Council as required

QUALIFICATIONS: Recognised planning degree or equivalent giving eligibility to full membership of RTPI.

POST OBJECTIVE To work on a wide variety of development management activities in the development management team, processing planning applications and planning appeals and being involved in all aspects of development management work at a professional senior level

SPECIFIC TASKS:
1. Site visits and site appraisals.
2. Dealing with planning enquiries (by telephone, in writing and in person)
3. Attending pre-application meetings with applicants and developers and carrying out negotiations prior to the submission of applications
4. Appraising planning applications and making recommendations to the Principal Planner – Team Leader & Planning Delivery and Implementation Manager, under the Council’s delegated system
5. Appraising planning applications and making recommendations to the Planning Development Control Committee and presenting these to the Committee as required by the Team Leader.
6. Preparing appeal statements and representing the Council at Hearings and, at the discretion of the Team Leader / Planning Delivery and Implementation Manager, being the Council’s expert witness at Public Inquiries
7. Carrying out research, analysis and preparing other planning reports
8. Supporting junior staff in their professional and personal development
9. Carrying out other duties as required from time to time by the Team Leader and Planning Delivery and Implementation Manager

The department has a strong commitment to training and will seek to provide a variety of work opportunities. 

Training will be given in all relevant aspects of planning work within the department.

Health and Safety
Every employee while at work has a duty to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of other persons who may be affected by his/her acts or omissions at work - Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Equality
Winchester City Council bases its employment practices on the concept of equal opportunity. As an equal opportunity employer the Council opposes all forms of discrimination or unfair treatment on the grounds of gender, marital status, race, colour, nationality, national origin, ethnic origin, religious belief, sexual orientation, disability or age. No employee or job applicant will be disadvantaged by any condition or requirement which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Safeguarding
Winchester City Council has a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.