Senior Compliance Officer – Planning

Job Category: Planning

Job location: High Street, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9SD, Elmbridge Borough Council

Hours per week: 36

Start date: Immediate start

Salary: £35.00 per hour

About the role
You will be investigating breaches of planning control. Working with applicants and developers to resolve breaches whilst keeping residents and Members up to date with investigations. You will work in a team, made up of a team leader, two compliance officers, as well as three tree officers.
The main purpose of the role:
To investigate and resolve alleged breaches of planning control, many of which will be of a complex nature. To ensure that development is carried out in accordance with approved plans and that conditions imposed on planning permissions are complied with. To take a lead role and take part in proactive enforcement projects and public liaison opportunities throughout the Borough.  
Specific duties and responsibilities
1.    Liaising with the Team Leader / Development Manager on complex and high-profile investigations.
2.    To assist in the allocation of investigation requests.

3.  To provide support to teh other compliance officers in the team. 
4.    To fully research the history of the subject site and assess plans and other documentation for evidence of any breach of planning control. 
5.    To visit sites and survey developments to record evidence of any breach of planning control and to interview members of the public, owners and occupiers of the land as necessary.
6.    To negotiate compliance with planning controls as appropriate.
7.    To liaise with Legal Services and other relevant Services as necessary.
8.    To prepare reports to recommend appropriate courses of action as appropriate.
9.    To issue instructions, serve notices, prepare statements and collate plans, documents and statements which may be produced as evidence. 
10.    To prepare and present evidence for written representation appeals, informal hearings, Public Inquiries and Court hearings as appropriate.
11.    To respond to enquiries and correspondence from Members, other officers, members of the public and other interested parties.
12.    To work with the Team Leader / Development Manager and other appropriate Officers to deliver selected proactive enforcement projects.
13.    To work with the Team Leader / Development Manager and other appropriate Officers, organisations or individuals to increase and improve public liaison for planning enforcement.
14.    To assist in officer and Member training.
15.    To provide enforcement support, as required across Planning Services. 
16.    To assist the Team Leader on regular committee reports on the Compliance Team performance.

Qualifications and Education
1    A degree in Planning or other appropriate professional qualification in Planning Enforcement      Desirable    A
2    Membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute and its Enforcement Network    Desirable    A

Experience
3    Significant experience of working in planning enforcement     Essential     A, T, I
4    Experience in writing reports/notices/appeal statements/hearing  Essential A,I

5   Experience of interviewing and taking statements from members of the public    Essential    A, I
6  Experience of on-site investigation, collecting information, measuring development, monitoring and research into documentary records.    Essential    A, I
7    Previous use and exploitation of computerised systems    Essential    A

Knowledge, skills and abilities
8  Ability to read and interpret technical plans and drawings    Essential    A, T, I

9  Knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply relevant legislation and Government guidance, including permitted development rights and case law    Essential     A, T, I

10 Understanding of PACE and RIPA and how it relates to planning enforcement  Essential A, I

11   Understanding of how the NPPF and the Local Plan impacts planning enforcement  Essential A, I

12   Good verbal and written communication skills.    Essential    A, I
13   Good record keeping    Essential    A, I
14    Ability to work under pressure and to contribute to team effectiveness    Essential     A, I 
15    Ability to work with minimum supervision and programme workloads to meet deadlines    Essential     A, I
16    Ability to provide a high quality service to customers    Essential     A, I
17    Ability to explain policies and processes to persuade and negotiate solutions with landowners/agents    Essential    A, I

18 Understanding of the Health and Safety issues involved in planning enforcement  Essential A, I

Special requirements
19    A flexible and innovative approach to work    Essential    A, I
20    Access to a vehicle for site visits throughout the borough    Desirable     A
21   A full drivers licence    Essential    A
22    The carrying out of site visits and investigations outside of office hours and at weekends is occasionally required, together with appearance at hearings, public inquiries, committees and Court.    Essential     A, I