Principal Planning Officer – Team Leader – Development Management

JOB TITLE: Principal Planning Officer – Team Leader – Development Management
DIRECTORATE: Operations
POST NUMBER: 421
GRADE: Scale 7
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Planning Delivery and Implementation Manager
ACCOUNTABLE FOR: Area based Development Management Team
LOCATION: Colebrook Street offices and other offices of the City Council. Site visits as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Full membership of the RTPI

Minimum five years relevant experience at a Principal Level or reaching a satisfactory standard of professional competence in all aspects of development management as defined by the Planning Delivery and Implementation Manager.

PRIMARY TASKS:

1. To work as a principal officer in development management team and to lead and provide day to day supervision of area-based planning teams.
2. In addition to this undertaking all aspects of development management commensurate with the grade of the post under the supervision of the Planning Delivery and Implementation Manager.
3. To assist the Planning Delivery and Implementation Manager and Service Lead for the Built Environment to provide a high- quality customer focused service to Members, the public and development interests.

SPECIFIC TASKS:
1) Undertake all development management duties to a professional standard, organise workloads and meet deadlines in accordance with the Department’s performance indicators and Service Plan.

2) In conjunction with the Planning Delivery and Implementation Manager to proactively manage planning performance within the area-based teams to ensure the timely an efficient processing of planning applications in accordance with the Council’s statutory duties an adopted planning policies, a service agreement with the South Downs National Park Authority, and the Service’s performance indicators, including checking and signing of planning applications for planning officers.

3) Manage all aspects of staffing within the area-based team including staff appraisals and people management and to assist the Planning Delivery and Implementation Manager in relation to appointments, discipline, training (including CPD where applicable.)

4) Assess and make recommendations on planning applications, including major projects.

5) Prepare delegated reports on development proposals.

6) Prepare committee reports and present recommendations to the Planning Committee and other committees and working parties.

7) Represent the Council at Planning inquiries as the planning witness.

8) Represent the Council at Hearings.

9) Undertake written representation appeals.

10) Carry out pre-application discussions and negotiations with applicants, developers and their agents.

11) Carry out post application implementation discussions and negotiations.

12) Undertake specific planning projects as may be specified from time to time by the Planning Delivery and Implementation Manager.

13) Undertake other planning work in other teams within the department as may be prescribed from time to time by the Planning Delivery and Implementation Manager.

14) Carry out any other duties as define from time to time by the Planning Delivery and Implementation Manager.

15) Provide support for other Planning and support Officers including their professional and personal development.

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.