Hours: 37 per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Service Area: Operations & Technical Support
Department: Planning
Bath and North East Somerset is a large and diverse area containing not only the internationally renowned City of Bath which is a World Heritage Site, but also an extensive area of Green Belt, two AONBs, numerous Conservation Areas and an abundance of listed buildings and other heritage assets. All this makes the District a hugely attractive place to work, live and visit.
An opportunity has arisen to join our Development Management Team as a planning enforcement officer. We are a busy department and the enforcement team play an important and integral part in ensuring that development is carried out in accordance with planning permissions granted and in line with local and national planning policy.
We are looking to appoint a Town Planner with a Degree or Diploma in Town and Country Planning (or equivalent) recognised by and giving full eligibility for membership of the RTPI to help manage development in a District that has exciting levels of growth planned within a unique built and natural environment. Candidates with suitable experience will also be considered.
The enforcement of planning matters can be complex and sometimes confrontational. The Planning & Enforcement Officer is expected to have the right attitude to resolve enforcement issues drawing on their knowledge of the planning system to offer professional planning advice so that all parties feel that they have been treated in a fair and reasonable way. The Officer will also be required to provide advice and guidance to staff, Elected Members and other key stakeholders. The successful candidate will be expected to understand planning policy and have knowledge of the legal framework underpinning planning and will be encouraged to resolve enforcement issues by negotiation, however sometimes the serving of enforcement notices and prosecution cannot be avoided. At Bath & North East Somerset Council, the Planning Enforcement Team are embedded in the planning department and fulfil a dual role dealing with both planning and enforcement matters and are responsible for assessing and determining a wide variety of retrospective planning, advertisement, listed building, prior approval and other application types through the district and will be expected to present applications to the Development Management Committee. Knowledge of the planning system and experience in the determination of applications is therefore essential. If you are looking for your next challenge, this is an opportunity for you to gain more experience across a wide range of planning issues in a busy local planning authority and the diversity of work means that there are opportunities to develop more specialised skills in planning, conservation and management.
The post presents an opportunity to work with like-minded people based in one of the most attractive areas in the country and would suit an appropriately qualified individual who is confident and self-motivated and enjoy the demands of a busy local authority planning office. For the right person we offer a competitive salary, flexible working conditions and a benefits package aimed to boost and maintain health, wellbeing and general quality of life of all our staff. We also offer comprehensive personal and professional training and development opportunities.
If you are forward thinking, ambitious, and keen to make a real difference in a world class environment and would like to join our team, we would be delighted to hear from you by applying on the B&NES website here
Your main place of work will be the award-winning, modern Civic Centre in Keynsham, halfway between Bath and Bristol, easily accessible via car or public transport, with a train station 5 minutes’ walk away.
Why B&NES Council?
We offer a wide range of benefits, to ensure that you are paid fairly for your work, have the flexibility to enjoy a great work/life balance, and have the support you need. These include:
Interested to find out more?
If you are interested in this post and require more details after reading the job description or just to chat through the role and what’s involved, please contact Joanne Cooper 01225 477452 / joanne_cooper@bathnes.gov.uk
To apply
Please use the online application facility. For further information on applying please see “Application Form Help” page on the Jobs website.
Bath & North East Somerset Council has one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. We have four core values which shape every aspect of our working life and how we look to the future. These values are to be Bold, Empowered, Supportive and Transparent.
Please explain in your application how you could incorporate these values into the role you are applying for.
As an equal opportunities employer, Bath & North East Somerset Council is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and is opposed to discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender reassignment, or marriage and civil partnership.
We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us.
Please note the Council operates a policy of prior consideration for roles for any individual on the Council’s at-risk register. This means should a redeployee express an interest in this role, providing they meet the essential criteria for the role, they will be interviewed before any shortlisting or interviewing of external candidates.
