Salary: Grade C3 £32,061 - £33,699 within career grade S1/SO1 up to £34,434
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Leeds
As a Planning Enforcement Officer, you’ll enjoy working with colleagues across the Council and outside it to help deliver a key planning service to the city. You’ll be joining one of the largest core‑city planning authorities and busiest enforcement services in the country, within a diverse and thriving area.
The Planning service has adopted a hybrid working model, with staff operating from home and from a modern office environment within the City Centre.
Leeds City Council is one of the biggest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.
About you
* The ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of customers
* Strong negotiation and problem‑solving skills
* Experience working to high standards to meet tight deadlines
* Ability to act on own initiative
* Well‑practiced in maintaining and updating records
About the role
The role involves working in one of two area teams handling a full range of enforcement matters in urban and rural environments, as part of the Development Management Service. You will liaise closely with colleagues in all areas of the Council, other authorities, public bodies and private organisations to deliver high‑quality enforcement outcomes to members, developers and the citizens of Leeds.
You will deal with a varied enforcement caseload within an area team. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate investigative and people skills to take cases from initial investigation to resolution through appropriate actions, in an outcome‑focused environment.
The service is based in Merrion House in Leeds City Centre, but has adopted a flexible, hybrid working model.
What we offer you
* A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
* Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
* Flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
* A clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
* A range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply
Please complete the online application form.
Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.
If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Lisa Hart, Team Leader. Call 0113 3788073, or email lisa.hart@leeds.gov.uk.
We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care‑experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.
If you do not the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you’ll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.
Job Description
Purpose of Job
To investigate alleged breaches of planning control and manage and progress a caseload of planning compliance cases. To investigate alleged breaches of planning control, negotiate solutions and make recommendations for the outcomes and determination of cases.
Responsibilities
* Investigate alleged breaches of planning control, negotiate solutions and make recommendations for the outcomes and determination of cases.
* Effectively manage and progress a caseload of compliance cases to ensure planning breaches are resolved.
* Prepare and serve legal notices and give evidence in court cases and in planning appeals.
* Monitor planning permissions and legal agreements on key development sites and take action, as appropriate, to secure compliance.
* Prepare reports on the progress of cases, make appropriate recommendations and keep interested parties informed on progress.
* Maintain effective communications with service users and ensure stakeholders are kept informed.
* Project manage cases.
* Be involved in projects and actions for continuous service improvements.
* Other duties may be undertaken which are commensurate with the grade and within the spirit of the post.
Relationships
The post holder will be required to work as a member of the team and will have regular contact with Senior Managers and other staff. There will be contact with other council and a wide range of external customers and stakeholders.
Progression
Progression to SO1 will be dependent on the ability to demonstrate that the candidate can meet the following requirements:
* Successful completion of an appropriate qualification in planning enforcement and/or experience in dealing with a full range of planning enforcement activities.
* The preparation of and the service of enforcement notices.
* The preparation of cases for prosecution and the prosecution of cases in the magistrate’s court.
* Understanding of the role and relationship of planning enforcement to planning services and other statutory regulations.
Job Profile
Duties at C1/2 grade
* Communicates with a full range of customers by letter, telephone and in person with minimal supervision on factual matters, and some supervision on matters involving giving an opinion.
* Deals with a range of enforcement cases of varying levels of complexity, with some supervision on more complex cases.
* Deals with simple enforcement cases with minimal supervision.
* Writes reasoned and balanced reports and makes recommendations with minimal supervision.
* Discusses simple enforcement cases with customers and gives opinions on options available and likely outcomes with some supervision.
* Negotiates solutions, with some supervision.
* Prepares evidence and witness statements for prosecutions with some supervision.
Duties at C3 grade
* Deals with a range of enforcement cases of varying complexity.
* Discusses a range of enforcement cases with customers and gives opinions to customers on the options available and the likely outcomes.
* Negotiates solutions with customers.
* Deals with simple written enforcement appeals.
* Prepares evidence and witness statements for prosecutions.
Duties at SO1 grade
* Deals with a full range of enforcement cases including complex cases and giving opinions to customers on the options available and likely outcomes.
* Writes detailed reports on complex issues, reaches reasoned conclusions and makes recommendations.
* Deals with a range of enforcement appeals.
* Negotiates solutions with customers on a range of enforcement cases, including complex cases.
* Prepares and serves enforcement notices.
* Prepares cases for prosecution across a full range of planning breaches and gives evidence at court hearings.
Personal Specification – Essential Requirements
It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities. Candidates will only be shortlisted for selection if they can demonstrate through their application that they meet all the essential requirements.
Skills
* Ability to maintain and update records.
* Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of customers.
* Ability to apply negotiation and problem‑solving skills.
* Ability to work to high standards to meet tight deadlines.
* Ability to act on own initiative.
* Ability to demonstrate flexibility, self‑motivation and determination.
* Ability to read and interpret plans.
Knowledge
* Knowledge of the role, functions, and responsibilities of a local authority.
Experience
* Experience of using IT packages.
* Experience of dealing with members of the public.
* Experience of working as part of a team.
Behavioural
* Willing to abide by the Council’s Equal Opportunities policy in the duties of the post and as an employee of the council.
* Willing to take personal responsibility under and abide by the Council’s Health and Safety policy.
* Awareness of and an ability to respect the sensitive and confidential nature of the work.
* Conscientious and committed approach towards completing tasks accurately and to deadlines to achieve service objectives.
* Committed to own personal development and learning.
Personal Specification – Desirable Requirements
It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.
Knowledge
* Knowledge of the statutory planning framework procedures.
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