Senior Planning Officer; Hybrid

Senior Planning Officer (Hybrid) – Maidstone – £155.40 per day

Pay Reference: OR105740. 3 days remote, minimum 2 days in office.

To undertake the client’s responsibilities for the control of development under the Town and Country Planning Acts and related legislation in the Borough, and to contribute to the team as required by the Team Leader, Planning Applications Manager or Head of Planning and Economic Development.

Appraise and evaluate applications made under the Planning Acts and breaches of planning control, negotiate and develop their contents and assess them against policy and other material planning considerations and formulate recommendations either to the planning committee or to the Head of Planning and Economic Development for decision.

Assist in the supervision and training of junior members of staff, including some management responsibilities to support the Team Leader as necessary. Advise or assist in advising members of the planning committee through appropriate recommendations and substantiate and justify recommendations to ensure that the decisions reached are in accordance with law, practice, policies and Government advice, and are reasonable and sustainable on appeal.

The post holder will be required to attend the Planning Committee meetings from time to time. This Committee normally commences its meetings  post holder will be required to present his/her cases or cases and those of other team members if required.

Compose and explain the client’s case in court proceedings, and at appeal which may include public inquiries, ensuring that the views of the client are properly represented. To maintain a high level of quality in decision making and meeting any performance targets set by the Client, Head of Planning and Economic Development or Planning Applications Manager from time to time.

Particular emphasis is placed on pre-application communication.

Establish and maintain contact with the public, applicants and their professional agents, and others involved in the development management process, to undertake effective negotiations and to reconcile competing or contradictory views prior to determination of planning applications and before taking action in relation to breaches of planning control.

• To assist where required in the validation of planning applications.
• Contributing to improving the quality of service and performance of development management.
• Investigations of alleged breaches of planning control or planning application site visits that may be required outside normal office hours.
• For extensive list of duties throughout the career grade, see Career Development Framework.
• Commitment to the client’s strategic plan.
• To undertake any training and development as required.
• To comply fully with the client’s Equal Opportunity Policy.
• To comply fully with the client’s Health and Safety at Work Policy.
• To assist as required in the client’s Emergency Plan.
• To comply fully with the client’s IT Security Policy.
• To undertake other duties commensurate with the grade of the post.

This is a full time role on a temporary contract basis.

Essential Employment is an Equal Opportunities Employer.