Rachel Oxenham
Tel: 01398 322219
Application packDate as postmark
Dear Sir/Madam
Assistant Planning Officer/ Planning Officer - Two posts available
[Note: Appointment to Planning Officer grade will depend on skills and experience. This is a career graded post and candidates employed initially at Assistant Officer grade will be able to build the necessary experience and skills to attain Officer status]
In response to your enquiry, I am pleased to enclose the following:-
i)Job Description(Appendix 1)
ii)Person Specification(Appendix 2)
iii)A summary of the Conditions of Service(Appendix 3)
iv)Information about Exmoor National Park Authority (Appendix 4)
v)An Application Form and Equal Opportunities Monitoring form
The closing date for receipt of application forms is25 February 2014 (12.00pm).
The interviews will be held at Exmoor Houseon 19 or 20 March.
If you would like any further information about these posts, please contactJoe White, Principal Planning Officer on 01398 322254.If you require this information in a different format, such as large print, please contact Ellie Woodcock, Corporate and Personnel Assistant, on 01398 322231.
Thank you for your interest -we look forward to receiving your application.
Yours faithfully
Rachel Oxenham
Head of Personnel and Corporate Support
Department/Service / Planning & CommunityJob Title / Assistant Planning Officer /Planning Officer
Reports To / Principal Planning Officer
Main Purpose of Job:
To assist in delivering an effective, efficient and community focused planning service which seeks to conserve and enhance the natural and built environment of the National Park.
Main Responsibilities and Duties: / Approximate % of Time
Processes planning, listed building, advertisement and other applications, particularly householder applications, within statutory deadlines. This involves checking the applications on submission to ensure all details are correct before registering, visiting all sites for detailed assessment and taking digital images for possible committee presentation. Negotiates with applicants and agents when necessary to agree changes in design or other details in line with policy or to meet the views of statutory consultees. Inputs information on each application into the computer and makes recommendations on applications for Principal Planning Officer to issue decision notices under delegated powers. Includes the drafting of reports for planning committee consideration of an application which cannot be determined under the scheme of delegation. / 40
Provides a ‘first contact’ point for public enquiries relating to planning permission and procedure for development proposals. Offers guidance and advice to the public and agents in person, both in the office and on site and by letter/telephone/email on whether planning permission is required and how to submit an application.
Contributes to other work of the Development Management and Enforcement Team. For example provides office and outreach planning surgery cover, assists in the preparation of information for appeal statements and performance monitoring data collation. / 40
Proactively monitors and checks development sites to ensure that proposals are carried out in accordance with permissions and conditions attached to consents. Records site visit details and follow up variances from approved plans and conditions to ensure compliance. Maintains records systems and schedules for monitoring of sites. Produces performance data and reports for monitoring function. / 10
Initiates personally and following representations, investigations into alleged breaches of planning control under the Planning Acts. Assists with interviewing complainants and witnesses, surveys, collates, researches and analyses information in relation to statutes, past history, case law and precedent, and assesses whether a breach of planning control has taken place and advises the Principal Planning Officer on action to remedy the breach. / 5
Contributes to other work of the Support to the Community and Business Section as required. / 5
Key Outcomes:
- The impact of development is managed to protect Exmoor’s special qualities
- Applicants receive a professional, friendly and effective planning service
- Statutory targets are met
Key Communities:
- Residents and local businesses
- Wider public, both nationally and internationally, in terms of the protection of Exmoor’s special qualities for enjoyment by all
PERSON SPECIFICATION – Assistant Planning Officer /Planning Officer
Knowledge, Skills, Experience and Personal QualitiesAssistant / Officer
Degree in Town and Country Planning / /
Masters in Town and Country Planning (or equivalent) /
RTPI Member or qualified to apply for membership (based on attainment of Masters degree and at least 1 year’s post-qualification planning experience) /
An understanding of National Park purposes / /
An understanding of sustainable development of remote, rural communities /
Ability to communicate clearly and tactfully at any level both orally and in writing / /
Ability to prioritise and meet statutory targets and deadlines / /
Ability to make logical decisions, and mediate and negotiate in a persuasive and professional manner / /
A professional and customer focussed approach / /
Ability to work effectively as part of a team - prepared to listen and invite views of others / /
Good level of IT competence, especially Windows based software / /
Able to research, analyse and present work and conclusions from information in a systematic, clear and relevant form. Requires an understanding of analytical techniques and the ability to undertake survey/research activities / /
A UK valid driving licence
(Access to a private vehicle would be preferable as the post requires travel to remote areas. A pool car will be available for most pre-planned journeys) / /
Conditions of Service
Post Title : / Assistant Planning Officer / Planning OfficerAppointment to Planning Officer Grade will depend on skills and experience. These are career graded posts and candidates employed initially at Assistant Grade will be able to build the necessary experience and skills to attain Officer status.
Office Location and Travel: / The postholder will be employed by Exmoor National Park Authority and will berequired to work fromExmoor House, Dulverton. The postholder will also be required to travel for site visits and participate in outreach surgeries in locations not served by public transport. Business mileage incurred using private vehicles will be reimbursed at the agreed casual mileage rate. An Authority pool vehicle will be available for some journeys.
Conditions of Service: / In accordance with the Scheme of Conditions of Service agreed by the National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Administrative, Professional, Technical and Clerical Services as adopted by the Park Authority together with other conditions of service set out in the Park Authority's Personnel Policies and Procedures.
Grade and Salary :
Career Development Post / The grade of the post for Assistant Planning Officers is Grade E which has a salary range of £19,817- £22,443 per annum.
The grade of the post for Planning Officers is Grade F which has the salary range of £23,188 – £26,539 per annum. Appointment at Officer Grade is dependent on experience and qualification to become a RTPI member.
Progression through the salary ranges will be by annual increments, subject to performance.
Hours: / The normal working week is 37 hours Monday to Friday, in accordance with the Authority’s flexitime scheme.
One post will be part time (22.2 hours per week).
Health: / The Authority will require the successful candidates to undertake a medical assessment (normally a simple health questionnaire) to ensure we are aware of any matters that may affect the candidate’s ability to conduct site visits and periods of lone working.
Probationary Period: / The appointment will be subject to a probationary period of up to six months.
Leave: / The basic full time equivalent annual leave entitlement is 35 working days (consisting of 25 working days annual leave, 8 public/bank holidays and 2 additional statutory days).
Officer Graded posts receive an additional 2 days annual leave per year.
Part time posts will receive a pro-rata allowance.
Pension: / The post is superannuable under the Local Government Pensions Scheme but membership is not compulsory. Staff are automatically enrolled on the scheme but may choose to opt out.
Notice: / The post will be subject to 1 calendar months’ notice on either side.
Equal Opportunities: / The Exmoor National Park Authority intends to ensure that no employee or job applicant should receive less favourable treatment than another on grounds of sex, age, race, disability, sexual orientation, political or religious belief or any other protected characteristic. Its recruitment practices will exclude all assumptions, preferences or judgements that are not strictly job-related. Information provided will be treated as confidential.
/ The Authority welcomes applications from people with disabilities. If you require information about this post or an application form in a different format, please contact Ellie Woodcock 01398 322231 or Rachel Oxenham on 01398 322219 or email
Working in the UK:
For more information about working in the UK, please refer to the up to date advice on the UK Borders Agency Website
/ All shortlisted applicants will be required to produce at interview a ‘defined’ document which must be one of the following:-
- A passport showing that the holder is a British citizen, or has a right of abode in the United Kingdom.
- A document showing that the holder is a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland. This must be a national passport or national identity card. For more information, and to see if you will also need further permission to work in the UK, see the website for the UK Border Agency regarding European Nationals.
- A residence permit issued by the Home Office to a national from a European Economic Area country or Switzerland.
- A passport or other document issued by the Home Office which has an endorsement stating that the holder has a current right of residence in the United Kingdom as the family member of a national from a European Economic Area country or Switzerland who is resident in the United Kingdom.
- A passport or other travel document endorsed to show that the holder can stay indefinitely in the United Kingdom, or has no time limit on their stay.
- A passport, identity card or other document endorsed by the UK Borders Agency to show that the holder can stay indefinitely in the United Kingdom; and that this endorsement allows the holder to do the type of work you are offering if they do not have a work permit; or documentation issued by the Home Office to an asylum seeker stating that the holder is permitted to take employment.
- a document from a previous employer, the Inland Revenue, Benefits Agency, Contribution Agency or Employment Service containing their name and NI number. This could be a P45, a P60 or a letter from a government agency.
- a birth certificate confirming birth in the U.K. or Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man (this must be a full birth certificate as a short birth certificate is not acceptable)or a certificate of registration or naturalisation stating that the holder is a British citizen or a letter from the Home Office confirming that the person is allowed to live and work in the U.K
APPENDIX 4
Exmoor National Park
Exmoor was designated as a National Park in 1954 under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The purposes of National Park designation as amended by the Environment Act 1995 are:
- To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park area
- To promote opportunities for understanding and enjoyment of Exmoor’s special qualities
In meeting those purposes, the NPA must seek to foster the social and economic well-being of local communities.
There are 15 members of the National Parks family in the UK, beautiful areas of mountains, meadows, moorlands, woods, wetlands, rivers and coast.They are areas of protected countryside that everyone can visit, and where people live, work and shape the landscape.. As such, they are part of a global family of 6,555 protected areas, covering one million square kilometres or 12% of the Earth’s surface. We are linked to Europe through the EUROPARC Federation – a network of European protected areas with 360 member organisations in 37 countries.
Exmoor covers 693 km2 of West Somerset and North Devon. The varied countryside includes moorland, woodland, farmland, river valleys and 60 km of magnificent coastline.
About 11,000 people live in the National Park which receives an estimated 2 million visitor days each year. The main settlements are Lynton & Lynmouth, Dulverton, Porlock and Dunster.
Candidates may like to visit the Authority’s website or National Park Portal for more information:
Support to the Community and Business
The Support to the Community and Business Section is responsible for a wide range of planning duties which include Development Management, Development Planning (Local, Strategic and Regional), rural development and community planning issues, external funding co-ordination, conservation area designation and enhancement programmes, and sustainable development.
The Authority receives 350 – 400 planning applications per year, many of which raise issues of a sensitive and contentious nature owing to the high quality and national importance of the built and natural environment and the often conflicting demands made on it.
‘Enhancing the qualities that make Exmoor special’
Application for employment with ExmoorNational Park Authority
Please type or write in BLACK ink for photocopying purposes
Application:Assistant Planning Officer or Planning Officer Closing Date: 25 February 2014 (12.00pm)
How did you hear about this job? …………………………………… (Please specify which website/newspaper)
If you require acknowledgement of receipt of this application form, please enclose a stamped addressed envelope and tick the box or provide your email address below:
Unless otherwise requested in the advertisement or job details, you are asked not to send curriculum vitae, testimonials or other documents. Further relevant information may be submitted on a separate sheet if there is insufficient space on the form.
Please return your completed application to:Personnel Office (Confidential), Exmoor National Park Authority, Exmoor House, Dulverton, Somerset, TA22 9HLor email to:
PART A: Personal Details (If handwritten, BLOCK CAPITALS please)Preferred Title (e.g. Mr, Mrs, Ms, Dr): Family Name/Surname:
Forename(s): Known/preferred name:
(if different to forename)
Home Address:
Post Code:
Date of Birth: ………../………./…………… National Insurance No:
Tel/Mobile No where you can be contacted during office hours (9-5):
Tel/Mobile No evenings (if different from above):
Email Address:
Personal Transport – for posts which involve travel within ExmoorNational Park please answer the following questions:
Are you able to travel within the National Park? / YES / NO
Do you have a current full driving licence? / YES / NO
Do you have a car or other means of transport available for work? / YES / NO
Our commitment as a employer
Exmoor National Park Authority welcomes applications from people with disabilities. Wherever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to enable a person with a disability to access the application and appointment process fairly.
Do you consider yourself to have a disability? / YES / NO
If you have answered YES to the above question and are offered an interview, would you welcome a pre interview meeting or discussion to identify any particular needs that you may have?
YES / By telephone / In person / NO
Disclosure of Criminal Offences – Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 gives individuals the right not to disclose details of old offences, which are seen as ‘spent’. Please give details, including dates and places, of pending prosecutions and any convictions, cautions and bind-overs since the age of 17 years, which are not ‘spent’.
References
Please provide the names of two referees, both of whom can write with authority about your performance/abilities/
competence in a work, voluntary or educational environment. One should be your current or most recent employer/
line manager. References will normally be taken up if you are shortlisted for interview.
You may approach this referee if I am shortlisted for interview: Yes / No *please delete as applicable
Name of current/most recent line manager: Job Title:
Address:
Post Code: Daytime Tel No: Email:
You may approach this referee if I am shortlisted for interview: Yes / No *please delete as applicable
Second referee (name): Job Title:
Address:
Post Code: Daytime Tel No: Email:
Relationship to you (e.g. Supervisor/Tutor):
Declaration of Interest:
Please disclose if related to any member/senior officer of the Authority:
Declaration:
- The information provided on all sections of this form is accurate. I understand that any incorrect information may lead to my application being disallowed or to my dismissal should I have taken up an appointment.
- I am willing for this data to be held and processed by Exmoor National Park Authority under Data Protection legislation and for Exmoor National Park Authority to verify the information given with relevant third parties.
- I confirm that I am entitled to live and work in the United Kingdom.
If submitting application via email please type your name above to confirm acceptance of the declaration statement.
Candidates applying via email may be asked to sign the declaration if selected for interview.
Notes:
Contacting Candidates
To help reduce paper use and keep postal costs to a minimum we prefer to email you to let you know if your application has been successful. If you do not have an email address or are not able to access email easily, please let us know on this form.
Medical
If an offer of the post is made, you will be required to complete a confidential medical questionnaire which will be sent to the Occupational Health Physician. A medical examination may be necessary to establish whether the role can be taken on without reasonable adjustment or, if adjustment is required, what the Authority may reasonably do to help you take up the role successfully. An offer of employment may be withdrawn if no reasonable adjustment can be found to enable you to take up the post.
Canvassing
Any form of canvassing will lead to disqualification.
Equal Opportunities
Exmoor National Park Authority intends to ensure that no employee or job applicant should receive less favourable treatment than another on the grounds of race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion, gender, trans-gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, domestic responsibilities, political or trade union activity or other form of discrimination. Its recruitment practices will exclude all assumptions, preferences or judgements that are not job-related and information provided by applicants will be treated as confidential. Part A of this form will be detached and only Parts B-D used for shortlisting.
Flexible Work Patterns
Where job requirements allow, Exmoor National Park Authority will consider any reasonable requests for flexible working patterns, including part-time, home-working or job share arrangements. However, for operational reasons it may not always be possible to meet such requests.
Asylum and Immigration Act 1996
Under this Act we have to ask you for proof of your right to work in the UK. Therfore, you will be asked to provide a ‘defined’ document such as a passport or P45, P60, Visa at interview.
Data Protection Act 1998
Exmoor National Park Authority is registered under the Data Protection Act 1998 to hold some information about employees and applicants on computer systems. This data is primarily for salaries, pension administration and statutory reporting purposes. Applications forms from unsuccessful candidates will be kept for 12 months and then destroyed.
PART B: Education, Training and Development
(Please continue on separate sheet if necessary)
Name of Secondary School/College/University / Qualifications gained / Level
(e.g. GSCE/
BTEC/A Level /Degree) / Grade/class
achieved
Other Relevant Training Courses Attended
(Please continue on separate sheet if necessary)
Organising Body / Course title / Length of course
Membership Of Professional Bodies
Name of body / Type of membership / Date obtained
PART C: Occupational History
Present (or most recent) Employment
Name and Address of Employer:
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
………………………………………………………………….
Type of Business: ……………………………………………. / Your Job Title: ……………………………………………...
Reporting to (Job Title): …………………………………...
Date Started: ……………………………………………….
Notice Required (or date left): ……………………………
Salary / Range: …………………………………………….
Please give details of your main tasks and responsibilities: …………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Reason for wanting to leave: …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Previous Employment (most recent first) – Please use separate sheet if needed
Employer’s Name and Type of Business / Job Title, key Responsibilities and Relevant Experience / Reason for Leaving
Dates in post:From To
PART D: Personal Statement
Please explain why you have applied for this post at this time
Experience, Knowledge and Skills
Your application form will be used to assess your match with the responsibilities outlined in the job description and person specification. Please use the space below to tell us about your relevant skills, abilities, knowledge and experience. You may use experience gained from within and/or outside the workplace to provide these examples. It is important that you refer to the job description and person specification provided to fully demonstrate your match with the role. You may add additional sheets if necessary. No CV’s please.
Thank you for completing and returning this form