Location: Aylesbury
Overview
We are looking for someone with a strong understanding and experience of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations to support the work of the Infrastructure Funding team in the Planning and Environment service.
Working for one of the largest employers in the County, you will be working in a high performing and enthusiastic team in a forward-looking organisation. Buckinghamshire Council is a leader in flexible working and is committed to partnership working, focusing on shared priorities, and encouraging collaboration.
Primarily based at our offices in Aylesbury, it will be your job to ensure the efficient and effective administration of the CIL so that this is managed in a consistent manner across Buckinghamshire. This includes assessment, collection, monitoring, and reporting, as well as supervision of other staff.
About us
Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.
The Planning and Environment service is part of the Planning, Growth and Sustainability Directorate. This directorate works with partners to help shape the future of Buckinghamshire, delivering services in planning, economic growth, regeneration, strategic infrastructure, transport and property.
The Infrastructure Funding team is responsible for assessing, calculating and collecting millions of pounds a year of developer contributions – and ensuring these are spent on infrastructure projects. This involves a wide range of activities including assessing approved plans against the CIL Regulations and ensuring that the correct notices are issued, as well as calculating and issuing invoices for payments, and administering reliefs. The team liaises with developers and works closely with the Council’s Finance team and Legal Services amongst others.
The team has a good team spirit - we want everyone to love what they are doing and feel supported as they progress. Personal and professional development, as well as a work/life balance, are important to us, with the Council offering flexible working arrangements.
About the role
The role involves working under the Principal Developer Contributions officer and alongside other Developer Contributions Monitoring Officers, primarily on CIL and also providing support on s106 planning obligations as required.
In this role you will:
1. Work within the framework of the CIL Regulations, Government Planning Guidance and the Council’s CIL Charging Schedules
2. Work with the other Developer Contributions Officer(s) for CIL to ensure there is a consistent approach for administration of CIL across all of the Council’s Charging Areas, including any future charging schedules
3. Supervise the day to day work of the Developer Contributions Administrator(s)
4. Ensure developments pay the correct amount of CIL, taking into account claims for relief, and ensuring income is passed on correctly, taking enforcement in cases of non-payment
5. Communicate clearly with developers, planning agents and householders to ensure efficient administration of CIL whilst providing excellent customer service
6. Record, monitor and report on all aspects of CIL including as part of our annual Infrastructure Funding Statement
7. Undertake financial reconciliation and all aspects of CIL payments to Parish and Town Council’s
8. Monitor developments for commencement to maximise CIL income
9. Ensure that systems and processes are updated including information on our website to help customers understand what contributions are payable when, and responding to queries from the public, developers and others
10. Work collaboratively with the Developer Contribution Monitoring Officer(s) for s106 to provide support with monitoring of s106 agreements as required
For full details please see the attached job summary.
Any-Desk:
As an ‘any-desk’ worker, you’ll need to be connected to our network to access digital folders and resources, but this can either be from home or an office location when required. You will be required to work from the office a couple of times a week, depending on your role and team requirements.
About you
You will have:
11. Relevant experience of developer contributions, including CIL and ideally planning obligations, and working in a large organisation
12. A good understanding of CIL Regulations and ability to interpret the Regulations
13. Excellent ICT skills, ideally including experience in using SAP, Exacom and Excel for managing data
14. A broad understanding or interest in planning development management, transport, infrastructure, policy or project delivery
Personal Qualities:
15. A reliable, enthusiastic and hard working individual who enjoys working on tasks individually and as part of a team
16. Able to prioritise and manage a complex workload
17. Have a detailed, accurate, methodological approach to work
18. The ability to work consistently and accurately within defined procedures
19. Good communication skills and able to explain technical or specialist information in a way which a non-specialist can understand
20. Proven ability to cope with conflicting and changing demands through good time management planning and organisational skills and the ability to work under pressure