Planning Manager - Castle Point Borough Council

Why Castle Point? Castle Point Borough Council is a statutory body responsible for employing nearly 350 staff, and delivering over 150 council services, both statutory and for the community's well-being and benefit. Castle Point Borough Council aims to provide high-quality and financially sustainable services while prioritising outstanding customer service, transparency in decision-making, and promoting local democracy. Additionally, the council seeks to transform, modernize, and improve its performance, as well as support and enable the communities within its jurisdiction to be strong, healthy, and thriving.

Our values: Trust, Respect, Improving and Learning, and Customer Focus

The Opportunity:

Castle Point Borough Council are currently going through an exciting period of change and growth in areas such as planning, regeneration and housing. Due to an internal promotion, they are seeking to appoint a new Planning Manager who will be pivotal in shaping and delivering high quality developments, contributing to the new 'Castle Point Plan', building new relationships and supporting the development in housing and regeneration in the Borough.

This is a great opportunity for an individual to take a 'step up' in their career and join at a time where they can really influence the direction of the department and support the Assistant Director in strategic decision making. This role is being offered on a hybrid basis whereby you will be required to be in the office at least 2-3 days per week and the rest working from home.

Accountabilities:

• To contribute to achieving the Council's corporate objectives and priorities
• To contribute to the Council's agenda for achieving continuous improvement in service delivery and any external performance assessments
• To ensure that development management achieves the highest standards of design and place making and works with developers to achieve that
• To manage the Development Management and Enforcement Service and provide support for the overall management of Development Services and input into corporate projects
• To provide the Council with professional advice on planning matters affecting the Borough and implement the highest standards of professional integrity
• To commission and ensure the effective delivery of all aspects of development management and enforcement services, including pre-application advice, planning application determination, appeal processing and planning enforcement, including regular reports to the Development Management Committee
• To ensure that the planning services consistently comply with relevant legislation as well as the Council's policies and procedures
• To ensure consistent decision making to enable the effective implementation of the Local Plan

Key Service Accountabilities:

• Management of all development management and enforcement planning work including the provision of advice and guidance in accordance with the Council's policies and procedures
• Defining what best practice and optimum looks like and inputting that into service plans, budgets and monitoring, including within agreed limits cost centre management responsibilities; to recruit staff and ensure that staff development plans are agreed, and appraisals against those plans are undertaken; to identify own and staff development and training needs; to input into corporate projects as required; and if required deputise for the Assistant Director of Development Services
• To be committed to continuing professional development, keeping informed and up-to-date on best practice, relevant legislation and current planning issues and to implement service, technological and culture changes and improvements necessary to maintain and enhance the development management function at the leading edge of best practice
• Providing the development management input into the preparation of the Castle Point Plan and supplementary planning guidance, and on the preparation of new residential Design Guidance, site planning briefs and master plans
• To ensure effective and good decision making, including by the Development Management Committee and to contribute to an effective training programme for Committee members and providing clear professional advice to elected members
• To commission, guide and undertake analysis and interpretation of data, policy and law
• To undertake, manage and represent the Council at external meetings (including within professional forums), briefings, presentations, tribunals, public inquiries, engagement work and consultation with stakeholders, including the community, as required
• To foster strong internal working links between all the functions of the Council's planning activities, and create an environment for ideas, innovation and the development of best practice
• In conjunction with the Assistant Director for Development Services, ensure that there is effective communication between the team and senior management, other service areas within the Council and elected members as necessary

The Experience You Will Bring:

• Previous experience within Planning is essential for this post, gained from either a local authority or private sector background
• Educated to degree level in related subject or equivalent relevant experience and knowledge
• Ability to build positive and dynamic relationships with other planning partners with excellent communication, advocacy and negotiation skills
• Excellent project planning, management and delivery skills, and the ability to multi-task and work to tight timescales

Castle Point Borough Council is proud to be a disability confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

Castle Point Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email Louise.Butler@essex.gov.uk