Planning Support Officer

To officially register and validate all types of planning cases received by the Development Management Service.

To provide high quality advice, assistance and support to the customers of the development management (DM) Service.

To provide administrative support to all aspects of the DM Service to promote efficiency and customer service.

Register all applications, ensuring applications have the correct fee paid, are valid against national framework and local list and they have sufficient information. Where invalid, clearly advise applicants of any inadequate submissions.

Assist Planning Officers in sending out Decision Notices.

Daily management of all incoming correspondence to the Development Management unit.

Provide cover for core office hours, between 9 am and 5 pm, with agreed flexible starts/finish times (unless contractually agreed).

Check for and respond effectively to correspondence in an informative, friendly and clear way, always being aware of Data Protection laws and record details on planning software systems.

Know when correspondence falls outside the scope of this role and, where necessary, inform contact you have passed it on to an appropriate colleague.

Identify and consult neighbours and statutory consultees, using planning software system plotting, check full site history and note constraints, send standard notifications, as required.

Process all re-consultations, re-advertisements or re-starts.

Produce weekly advert or applications registered for the local newspaper, plus any other lists, if needed.

Reconcile fees and funds.

Assist in general office functions such as scanning, printing and linking within planning software system.

Provide support to the Planning Appeals’ process, as directed by the Senior Planning Support Officer.

Assist specialist and other officers by accurately recording and maintaining property based registers within planning software systems, as well as other data capture projects, as needed.

Support colleagues in the team, the wider department, service and other departments, demonstrating positive behaviours in line with corporate behaviour frameworks.

Prepare and check planning agenda reports and accompanying documentation.

Conduct Land Charge and personal site history searches, locate sites and extract records relating to them, using manual and electronic data sources.

Be an advocate for customers, putting customer care at the heart of your actions, seeking ways to improve the customer journey at all times.

The postholder should hold five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, including English and Maths, or an equivalent qualification. The postholder must be IT literate, proficient in MS Office, Word (Excel would be an advantage) and accurate in data entry. The postholder should be experienced working with a GIS system and with maps and plotting skills. The postholder should be customer focussed and experienced at responding to telephone calls, processing queries, answering routine matters and referring to appropriate officers for response, with a diversity of customers.

The postholder should be experienced in dealing with bills/invoices for payment and basic statistical work. The postholder must achieve performance objectives whilst maintaining high levels of accuracy. The postholder must be flexible and adaptable, able to work in a systematic manner, responsible for organising own workload with minimum supervision, to co‑ordinate and meet demanding deadlines. The postholder should have effective interpersonal skills, including writing and speaking clearly, with courtesy and friendliness.

To demonstrate competency in understanding of planning legislation and applying this to the day‑to‑day functioning of the DM service.

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer…