24 Oct
Maidstone Borough Council
Maidstone
Job description
About the Role
Working in a Borough that faces a diverse range of Planning challenges, given our unique combination of rural and urban areas, we are looking for a Planner whose previous enforcement experience can really make an impact.
In Maidstone, we cherish our heritage and countryside which we are determined to enhance. Careful management of competing pressures is the primary task, and the enforcement team are vital in ensuring that public confidence is maintained in the planning system.
With specific and recent experience of Local Government Planning or Enforcement, you will be responsible for appraising and evaluating enforcement complaints and breaches of planning control;
assessing them against policy and other material planning considerations to formulate recommendations and drafting enforcement notice where appropriate.
You may also be asked to process planning applications, advise members of the Planning Committee in their decision making and will be responsible for composing the Council’s case and presenting evidence in court proceedings and at appeal.
Working in Maidstone you’ll also be less than an hour from London by train and have all that Kent can offer at your fingertips.
You’ll also have the opportunity to develop your skills and experience within an organisation that prides itself on supporting its staff.
Your work is likely to involve both Development Management and Enforcement work and you will be given training in both disciplines.
We encourage all types of vocational and technical training & qualifications, including management and leadership programmes.
This is a permanent,
full-time position with opportunities for extensive home working under the Council’s new hybrid working policies.
This role is also available as a fixed term secondment for internal candidates. About Maidstone Borough Council Maidstone Borough Council is a confident organisation with ambition and aspirations to deliver high quality services to our residents and local businesses.
We strive to make the borough an attractive place for all and secure a successful economy. We continue to build on our strengths - assets, knowledge and expertise and our track record for innovation and improvement to create a financially sustainable future so that we can continue with our undiminished plans.
We will only achieve the results we are aiming for through the talents and hard work of all our people.
You are encouraged to become part of our vision and in return you can expect support, training, and fair reward from us.
We will give you the opportunity to develop the skills to do your job well and create a positive working environment where your ideas about improving how we do things are valued and we manage the changes needed for new ways of working well.
At Maidstone Borough Council we recognise the importance of flexible working and the benefits this can bring to both our staff and the Council.
We know that by offering employees a range of flexible working opportunities we can positively impact their wellbeing and engagement, and drive productivity in return.
As such we have developed a highly flexible hybrid working policy, alongside our flexi time and flexible working policies,
enabling staff to shape their working patterns around building a greater work life balance.
Our Offer : A range of benefits including :
- Highly flexible hybrid working opportunities
- 7am to 7pm flexi time to suit personal circumstances for most roles
- Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.
- Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year.
- Free parking
- Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people’s home / work life balance including compressed hours, 9-day fortnight, part time.
- Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities
- Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.
- Life Assurance three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
- Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail / bus journey, to & from work
- Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
- Annual flu vaccine
- Cycle to work scheme
- Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping
- Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals
- A professional fee payment,
if required for the role About You : You will preferably have a degree or equivalent in Town and Country Planning with eligibility for membership of the RTPI.
You will have an understanding of Planning Legislation and experience dealing with complex planning enforcement issues. Additionally, this role is customer-facing, so the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is an essential element of the role.
To hold a full UK driving licence. Selection Process : Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager.
Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.
Maidstone Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.
Maidstone Borough Council has a Sponsor License which enables successful candidates in eligible roles to be sponsored for work Visa purposes.
▶️ Planning Officer (Enforcement)
🖊️ Maidstone Borough Council
📍 Maidstone