DENBIGHSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Senior Planning Obligations/Community Infrastructure Levy Officer

Grade: 10

Service: Planning and Public Protection

Service Area: Planning and Public Protection Policy Team

Responsible to: Planning and Public Protection Policy Manager

Date Issued: January 2013

Job Purpose
To lead on the development and establishment of a common and consistent approach for negotiating, managing, co-ordinating and administering planning obligations for North Wales local planning authorities (Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire, Conwy, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey Councils and Snowdonia National Park Authority). To progress work on the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy and develop a charging schedule at a North Wales level.
Principal Accountabilities and Responsibilities
1.  To develop a consistent framework for negotiating planning obligations and progressing the Community Infrastructure Levy to be applied across all North Wales authorities.
2.  To develop a programme for introducing the Community Infrastructure Levy for each authority, with costs and timescales for preparing and adopting a charging schedule.
3.  To lead on the development of integrated working procedures and agreement of a methodology for preparing a charging schedule across all North Wales authorities, including viability assessment across North Wales to identify charging zones.
4.  Devise, maintain, develop and implement common and consistent practice and procedures in relation to the negotiation and monitoring of planning obligations across the authorities, including a standard approach to development viability assessment. Collate quarterly and annual statistics including information regarding monitoring of sites and payment points and an Annual Report providing general trends and recommendations for the future linked to the financial and business planning processes.
5.  To monitor, review and evaluate existing land use plans, policies and proposals and to report on their success, progress and continued relevance to securing planning obligations, together with recommendations for appropriate action. Liaison with Development Control Teams & Housing Strategy Teams to ensure that planning obligations meet the planned demands and opportunities presented through emerging Local Development Plans, and that planning obligation procedures are in line with local and national planning policy.
6.  Liaison with officers responsible for service provision in other Council departments and in partner organisations to secure maximum financial and environmental benefits. To liaise with and analyse and interpret the plans, policies and proposals of other individuals and organisations, such as Health Board, utilities and statutory undertakers, transport operators and providers, to identify potential requirements and opportunities for planning obligations, and report with recommendations for appropriate action.
7.  Review, analyse and negotiate development appraisals submitted as part of the planning application process, identifying and overcoming barriers to implementation and addressing issues around planning impact.
8.  Lead negotiations with developers, applicants (planning), statutory and non-statutory bodies and with the public on major projects and issues particularly in relation to Section 106 and more general development agreements.
9.  Contribute to the formulation and drafting of policy documents, land use plans, planning briefs and reports so as to define and identify requirements and opportunities for planning obligations.
10.  Prepare and give advice in relation to work undertaken to Council meetings, councillors, public inquiries. Manage the consultation and dissemination of information to stakeholders and the public, including exhibitions, internal and external meetings.
11.  Provide advice on public and private sector funding mechanisms and how they can best be used to assist with the delivery of specific development projects.
12.  Deliver excellent customer service in line with the Council’s standards and best practice, effectively manage personal workload of projects, and identify and achieve personal development opportunities.
Resources/Equipment/Material
N/A
Supervision/Management of People
No direct line management or supervisory responsibilities.
Knowledge, Skills, Training and Experience
Must be a qualified planner or surveyor with an understanding of development finance and funding and experience of negotiating on complex development schemes. Should preferably have experience of undertaking development viability appraisals.
Special Working Conditions
N/A
Employment Checks/ Specific Requirements
Membership or eligibility for membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, or similar professional body.
Vision/Context
This post has been established to progress work on the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy and to development a consistent approach for managing and negotiating planning obligations across all North Wales local planning authorities.