Planning Officer

Planning Officer – Stockport

Salary: £20.00 - £45.00 an Hour

Full-Time (37 hours)

Contract: Six Months – Possibly beyond

Main Purpose of the Job

To provide technical and professional information, support, advice and recommendations in respect of the Council's development management functions

Key Responsibilities

Summary of responsibilities and key job activities:

•           Manage and prioritise a development management caseload of correspondence, applications, appeals and pre-application enquiries in accordance with national and local performance targets

•           Undertake and verify the technical processing of development applications in accordance with legislative requirements, Council policy and procedures.

•           Ensure all consultations, advertisements and notifications (statutory and non-statutory) are carried out in respect of development applications.

•           Ensure all relevant information is sought, obtained, recorded, analysed and considered as part of the determination of development applications.

•           Ensure that all relevant information received is correctly recorded into the Council’s planning data base and made public where appropriate in accordance with the Council’s statutory duty, policies and procedures.

•             Examine and assess development applications, carrying out site inspections, where necessary, and provide a report and recommendation on each application, taking account of all material considerations.  Provide draft conditions and reasons in accordance with the Council's policies and procedures.

•           Provide information and advice to the public and media when appropriate, undertake discussions and negotiations with officers from other Council departments, agents, applicants, third parties and Council Members, in respect of enquiries.

•           Provide guidance and  support to the administrative, technical and professional aspects of the work undertaken by clerical staff within the area of responsibility.

•           Provide advice, support and recommendations to the appropriate enforcement officer with regard to complaints and breaches of planning control, in order to ensure compliance with the Council's decisions, policies and procedures.

•           Process and provide expert planning evidence and/or statements for planning appeals dealt with by written representation, informal hearing and public inquiries and for court appearances.

•           Liaise and consult as appropriate with other officers, and organisations and bodies in order to process and determine development control enquiries, applications and appeals in accordance with a Development Team Approach.

•           Contribute to the preparation of publicity material, design briefs, policies and supplementary guidance notes guidelines in relation to development management functions, taking part in specific task groups as necessary.

•           Attend appropriate Council committee meetings (including an appropriate area committee, which is currently held on a weekday evening) in order to give advice and recommendations on development management issues affecting the area.

•           Where required, attend public inquiries, public meetings and Council meetings, giving evidence, information and advice.

•           Maintain professional competence in the field of Town Planning sufficient to undertake all aspects of the post.

•           Contribute to and work collaboratively to deliver the key aims and objectives of the Council and be an active member of the service.

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices 4Recruitment Services is an equal opportunities employer.

To discuss this vacancy or other vacancies in your area please contact Liam Heddle on liamh@4recruitmentservices.com