Principal Planning Officer

Reading, Berkshire

3-month temporary contract commencing Mid-March.

(PAYE hourly rate) - 39.20 to 43.12
(Umbrella or Ltd Company hourly rate inside IR35) - 50 to 55

Hybrid working - combination of home working, office and site visits. About twice per week in the office (site visits and meetings) and possibly the need to attend evening committee meetings.

Reed Recruitment are recruiting on behalf of a Reading Borough Council for a temporary Principal Planning Officer. You will be working in one of the Development Management Teams and will assist and deputise for the Development Management Team Leaders in the running of that team. You will contribute at senior level in all aspects of the planning service

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. To organise and prioritise a demanding and complex personal workload comprising a range of major and more complex cases and projects with minimum of supervision.

2. To consistently meet and maintain personal performance targets in a pressurised environment.

3. To take personal responsibility for making recommendations to planning applications committee or full Council on very complex and politically sensitive planning issues, including either/or major planning applications, development briefs, new or revised planning policy and strategic planning matters.

4. To be an expert witness and defend the Council's decisions and policies at planning hearings.

5. To initiate and carry through complex negotiations with developers of major schemes and their professional advisors to secure significant planning benefits, both financial and works in kind.

6. To assist in developing and motivating junior members of the professional planning teams including, with delegated powers, the determination of applications in line with Council procedures.

7. To contribute to managing, prioritising and carrying out enforcement action within the Borough, assisted by the Enforcement officers.

8. Preparing and giving evidence in planning enforcement appeals and other legal proceedings.

9.To keep informed in respect of new initiatives of the Council, new legislation and government guidance that affects the work of the planning service.

10.To instruct the legal section on a variety of planning issues, including policy issues, enforcement, Section 106 agreements and appeals.

11.To deal with customer complaints and MP enquiries in accordance with the Council's processes.

12. To supervise junior members of the professional planning teams including monitoring work programmes and carry out 1 to 1s of junior staff as assigned, making a positive contribution to the management and performance of the team.

13. To represent the planning service at meetings and corporate working groups, with Councillors, including committee chairs, and high-level managers within the local authority and outside organisations as a professional and ensure that both the Council's policies and its statutory duties are accurately interpreted at those forums.

14. To deal with customer complaints including those at Stage 1 of the Council's complaints procedure.

15. No direct budget responsibility. However, the post will be responsible for negotiating and securing Section 106 agreements for affordable housing and infrastructure provision or improvements where financial contributions are made in place of on-site provision.