The roles in more detail

The post holders will be responsible for delivering a high quality and innovative planning service with specialisms including development management and compliance, planning policy and placemaking.

Collectively, within an ambitious place making agenda, you will play a key role in shaping Cheltenham; balancing the strong emphasis on growth with the need to conserve and enhance Cheltenham’s rich cultural, biodiversity and heritage offer, in the light of climate change and our commitment to drive the environmental and sustainability agenda of the town alongside our social values.

The roles will require a proven track record of successful stakeholder management and engagement. There is a strong need to have an excellent political awareness.

You will be focused on delivering high performance, including continuous improvements and efficiencies, and finding creative solutions and innovations that will drive and embed the culture of a forward thinking planning service with in an increasingly commercial environment.

Externally you will engage with a range of individuals, including industry experts, stakeholders and the wider community. Internally you will work collaboratively with colleagues and elected members and partner stakeholders to drive our commitment to timely decision making and support our corporate priorities. A key priority is ensuring Cheltenham plays its role through development as a destination and fosters opportunities for inward investment and economic growth, under the leadership of the Director of communities and economic development.

As a modern and progressive local authority, we are embracing a more flexible and blended approach to working arrangements and are open to candidates that may require some remote working to manage their work life balance.

Key duties and responsibilities

You will play a key role in helping deliver Cheltenham’s place ambitions. Within this context and in the light of changes in the planning system, you will play a key role in delivery of our major development, regeneration and landmark sites.

You will drive innovation, creativity and engagement in an environment of continuous improvement. You will not be afraid to positively challenge embedding our corporate values.

As Head of development management, enforcement and compliance you will:

Ensure that all planning applications are processed efficiently and effectively within available resources within a context of improving performance
Help remove barriers in the delivery of our major development, regeneration and landmark sites
Manage the appeals process and ensure learnings are embedded across the service
Manage the enforcement caseload and develop a positive approach to compliance
Effective negotiation and management of S106
Businesses owner of the planning ICT module and responsible for its strategic direction

As Head of policy and placemaking you will:

Ensure the timely adoption and review of local planning policies within the council's development plan, including, effective joint working with adjoining authorities and other relevant bodies
Oversee delivery of conservation and trees specialisms and ensure specialist advice fulfils the statutory requirements within the context of place and growth ambitions, including responding to priorities around design and biodiversity
Lead on strategic CIL delivery and infrastructure planning
Lead on neighbourhood planning
Embed climate change as a golden thread through our planning place based outcomes

Collectively you will:

Lead high performing teams within a culture of continuous review and improvement. You will foster challenge and innovation to help drive your service improvements with a focus on customer service and engagement
Deliver a high quality and consistent approach to strategic planning and placemaking across the specialisms you have leadership, balancing the ambition of the growth agenda alongside conservation and enhancement of our rich heritage, biodiversity and cultural offer, in the light of climate change issues
Ensure that an efficient, professional and expedient response is provided to planning complaints, undertaking appropriate enforcement action as required
Prepare and present complex development related matters as appropriate to Full Council, Cabinet, and Planning Committee and where appropriate Leadership Team in a way that is concise and understandable
Embed a team based approach across all planning and related specialisms; ensuring knowledge is applied to good effect in the best interests of the town as well as supporting the corporate objectives of the council and delivering against our place and growth agenda
Ensure members are supported in their roles on Planning Committee and other related working groups, including ensuring appropriate and effective ongoing training for members
Be accountable for allocated budgets, reviewing budget targets within the context of performance and the wider commercial context of the council
Participate in wider corporate initiatives and projects which support delivery of the place and growth agenda
Ability to challenge and influence decision making
Experience in analysing, collating and presenting business information to inform change, create business cases and development plans and strategies
Gain respect and trust of clients and stakeholders

General accountabilities

You will play a key role in supporting and working with other managers across the council, including contributing to our commercial agenda of increasing income, reducing costs and improving efficiencies.

General accountabilities include:

Contributing to the delivery of divisional service plans. This includes working within a performance management framework with clear targets for your service and teams for continual improvement
Supporting and working with other managers across the organisation, including contributing to the council's commercial agenda of increasing income, reducing costs and improving efficiencies
Taking on any other additional duties which may reasonably be required within Cheltenham Borough Council
To be flexible in ways of working, including hours, evenings and where required, weekends
Managing the service’s health and safety and risk management issues
Being part of the emergency planning team, out of hours working may be required
Demonstrating a commitment to personal and professional development, identifying any gaps in skills, knowledge and expertise and helping to plan appropriate training programmes for your team, other officers and elected members

Essential requirements – qualifications, skills, abilities and experience

Qualifications

Professional qualification in planning or related discipline to degree level, appropriate to the remit of the role, or equivalent by experience
Membership of a relevant professional body
Evidence of extensive continual professional development

Experience and skills

You will have extensive experience within the development sector and able to demonstrate enabling delivery of complex and high profile development
Professional experience in leading planning and developing strategies and policies in town planning within multi-disciplinary teams
Be effective in negotiation and mediation
Experience of effectively performance managing a diverse workforce & responding to diverse communities
Proven ability to work effectively in a political environment and establish effective working relationships with members, members of the public and other community bodies
Ability to demonstrate sound knowledge and application of the statutory requirements and legalities in relation to planning services
Experience of effectively performance managing a diverse workforce and responding to diverse communities
Proven ability to work effectively in a political environment and establish effective working relationships with members, members of the public and other community bodies
Ability to demonstrate sound knowledge and application of the statutory requirements and legalities in relation to planning services
Experience of commissioning technical and professional survey and feasibility work and managing multiple consultancy and advisory work
Establishing and building partnerships and networks with senior managers, external bodies, and partner organisations and being active across professional networks to aid establishing, influencing and maintaining positive relationships that will support the outcomes of the planning service and delivery of corporate priorities
Experience of effective budget management and delivering cost reductions whilst improving services
Able to look for business opportunities and assess opportunities within context of business unit
Demonstrable computer literacy and IT skills
Accomplished analytical and problem-solving skills, with good attention to detail
Excellent verbal & written communication, including report writing and presenting material to a range of audiences, including engaging with the wider community
Self-motivated and able to see tasks through to a successful conclusion, including meeting challenging deadlines where necessary