Planning Enforcement Officer

Title: Planning Enforcement Officer

Service/Team: Planning and Climate Change/Development Management

Hybrid Working but expected to be in the office 3 days / week

Reports to: Senior Planning Enforcement Officer

To investigate Planning Enforcement complaints in accordance with the standards set in the Council’s Planning Enforcement Charter and seek to resolve all cases within the shortest possible timescale, consistent with a high quality of decision-making.

Contribute, where required, to the development of the Council’s overall strategic direction, policies and objectives.  Provide professional advice, information and support in relation to Planning Enforcement matters to Councillors, Senior Managers and other colleagues, as required.  Contribute to the Council’s customer service ethos and be part of a strong working culture, with sound values and positive behaviour.  Contribute to the development of strong performance management across the Council to help drive the effective service delivery in line with Council aspirations.  Work across Council services to ensure an integrated approach to service planning and delivery, contributing to cross service projects, as required. Specific  To manage a significant workload, and to be mindful of confidentiality and have an awareness of relevant legislation (FOI/ General Data Protection) in terms of record keeping.  To ensure that all Planning Enforcement complaints are investigated in accordance with the timescales and thresholds contained in the Council’s Local Planning Enforcement Plan, with accurate and up-to-date electronic record-keeping, including the recording of planning expediency decisions in all cases.  To prepare and serve formal Notices in relation to breaches of planning control, and to prepare appropriate statutory documentation for any appeal or court proceedings where required to do so including interviews under caution and witness statements.  To represent the Council as a witness in Court proceedings, and to represent the Service during any related appeal proceedings (informal hearings and public inquiries), giving expert evidence.  Where required to do so, to prepare and present enforcement reports to the Planning Regulatory Committee.  To maintain a current knowledge of planning legislation, procedures and policies including Planning Enforcement case law, and any other guidance that may be relevant to Planning Enforcement matters.  Where necessary, liaise with other Officers within the Service, including the Arboricultural Officer and Conservation Officers, to address any enforcement issues which involve landscape and heritage issues. To liaise with Policy Officers when required to make contributions towards the emergence of local planning policies and documents, in order to shape future policies against which planning applications and enforcement cases will be assessed, and when required to support colleagues at policy consultation events.

 Assist with the overall day to day enforcement case management of the Graduate Planning Enforcement Officer.

 To be proactive and proportionate in terms of Planning Enforcement decision-making, ensuring that public confidence in the planning system is maintained via planning expediency decisions that are capable of being defended should they be challenged.  To act as professional Planning Enforcement advisors to Councillors, Senior Managers and other colleagues.  To adopt a continuous improvement approach to all work delivered by the Planning and Climate Change Service, ensuring that placemaking is at the heart of all decision-making.

 The postholder will be required to help, mentor and provide guidance to the Graduate Planning Enforcement Officer of the Planning Enforcement Team.  To fully support colleagues in the department and provide Planning Enforcement expertise, as requested, and to support the Senior Planning Enforcement Officer.