Principal Planning Officer

Purpose of Job:
To be responsible toTeam Manager (Area Team/Strategic Development Manager) for: i)
Responsible for supervision of junior members of staff in a development management team; ii)
Responsible and accountable for delegated decision-making powers; iii)
Responsible for own application caseload including making recommendations;iv)
Leading on appeals; v)
To provide pre-application advice and compliance with legislation and regulations advice; vi)
Responsible for providing general planning advice in accordance with the Planning Framework, Council’s Corporate Core Principles, Key Aims, Service Plans, Financial Regulations and Standing Orders and agreed procedures. vii)
To ensure the provision of a first-class service to customers. viii)
Accountable to the Assistant Director, Head of DM Service, Team manager and Deputy Team manager for dealing with detailed planning schemes and initiatives and development management functions. This

Job Description is designed to cover several career graded posts in Development Management Planning. Progression through the grades will be in accordance with the Career Grade Scheme. Post holders will be required to work to a subset of the duties outlined below Main Duties:
1)
After three year’s post qualification experience and eligibility for membership of an appropriate professional body.
2)
Regular attendance at Planning Committees presenting a wide range of applications.

Lead officer where an officer under postholders supervision presents an application at committee.
3)
Responsible for representing the Council at all appeals including Public Inquiries, including leading case officers that postholder supervision through appeals.
4)
Responsible for determining some major applications together with applications of complex/sensitive nature. As required to deal with planning enforcement work as required including progressing enforcement action and associated appeal and prosecution work related to applications within your team.
5)
Provide information, interpretation and opinion on the planning system, including a good understanding of relevant legislation and the national planning policy framework and key Borough and London wide policy documents using the level of knowledge and experience commensurate to the post and to undertake the duties assigned to the post within a specialist area of development planning
6)
Lead on the examination and evaluation of all types of planning applications made under the Town and Country Planning Acts and related legislation, together with giving specialist observations and pre-application advice on a wide range of planning issues. Undertake consultations, site visits, evaluation and negotiations with key stakeholders to generate high quality planning decision recommendations. Assess whether proposals are in accordance with Council’s policies and liaise with officers of other directorates and members of other public bodies on matters arising from planning.
7)
Solution orientated focus to work, apply creative solving problems, interpreting policy and applying case law to the assessment of applications and their resolution
8)
Prepare written documentation to a high standard, including complex reports and legal documentation.