Principal Planner

Role purpose

TheCouncil isfocusedondeliveringthebestpossibleoutcomesforitscommunities. TodothistheCouncilneedsemployeeswhothriveinan
agileandnetworkedorganisationandwhocansupportcontinuousimprovementwithinaconstructiveorganisationalculture. Youwillworkwith
relevantofficersbothwithintheservice,andacrosstheCouncilandourpartners,onarangeofprofessionalactivitiesandprojects, inlinewith
service priorities and the Council’s Corporate Plan.

Thepurposeof thisrole is tosupport theoperational needsanddeliveryoutcomesof theStrategicPlanningandInfrastructureteam,which
includes the functions of: DevelopmentManagement, PlanningEnforcement andSpatial Planning. The role can includeall aspects of
developmentmanagementandspatial planningworkincluding:planningapplications;appeals;enforcement;area-basedplanningstrategies;
planningbriefs; projectwork; thepreparationandmonitoringof theLocalDevelopmentFramework, supplementaryplanningguidanceand
other policies; and helping the public take part in planning and support initiatives such as co-design.

The role reports directly to an assigned Lead Officer.

Key activities

Customer
● WorkingcloselywithcolleaguesintheContactCentreandotherservices,deliverexcellent levelsofcustomerservicesforthebenefits
of local communities and the reputation of the Council.
● Supportandfacilitateseniorofficersas theyseek torespondtocomplaints frommembersof thepublic, residentsgroups, theLocal
Government Ombudsman and Councillors arising from the post holder’s casework.

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ROYAL BOROUGH OF KINGSTON UPON THAMES – ROLE PROFILE
Performance
● Works with manager to agree performance objectives
● Plans and prioritises own work to meet deadlines
● Contributes ideas to support the development and then fulfillment of team service plan
Partners
● Builds strong internal and external working partnerships to enable the service to be delivered in an outcome-focused and efficient way.
● Supports Kingston’s commitment to community cohesion and valuing diversity and social inclusion.
Core Competencies
● Self management and employing self-awareness, self confidence, self-control, self-knowledge, personal reflection, resilience and
determination to work positively with customers, stakeholders, Councillors and colleagues. Demonstrate behaviours consistent with the
Core Competency Framework.
● [For Principal Planner role] As a manager within the service the postholder will also have to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the
Management Competency Framework.
Digital/New Ways of Working
● Supports the use of new technologies, particularly Google, to enable modern working practices to thrive.
Equality and Diversity
● Embeds equity, equality, fairness and diversity into all aspects of their work.
General
● The requirements of this post could include attending meetings and other events outside normal hours as expected with a post of this
nature and the postholder will need to manage their work life balance flexibly to meet the needs of the role.
● To develop, update and act on own personal development plan, and be ready to share learning with others.
● To work in accordance with RBK‘s Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety, relevant policies and legislation.
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● Any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post, as may be required from time to time.
ROYAL BOROUGH OF KINGSTON UPON THAMES – ROLE PROFILE

Professional activities

ThisRoleProfile isgeneric tomultiplepostswithintheplanningteamtoreflect theneedforstaff tobeflexibleandworkacrossplanning
disciplines,asmayberequired, toensurethenecessaryoutcomescanbeachieved.Forseniorrolesitmaybenecessaryforstaff tospecialise
theirprofessionalknowledgearoundoneelementofplanning(i.e.DevelopmentManagementorPlanningPolicy).ThisisreflectedintheCareer
Grade Structure.

Development Management
● To process applications for planning permission and listed building applications, and applications for consent to display advertisements.
● Toundertakeallnecessaryconsultations,sitevisits,appraisalofproposalsandnegotiationswithapplicantsandobjectorsonplanning
and other applications.
● To prepare reports on planning and other applications.
● To undertake investigation of complaints about alleged planning contraventions.
● TopreparestatementsforWrittenRepresentationAppeals(PlanningandEnforcement)andtoassistorundertakethepreparationand
presentation of evidence at Public Inquiries and Hearings.

Projects
● Tocontributetothedevelopmentofarea-basedstrategies,planningandurbandesignsitebriefsandotherSupplementaryPlanning
Documents and to engaging the public in their production.
● To help process significant applications for planning permission and assist in the preparation and presentation of evidence.
● To prepare committee reports and other papers and assist in their presentation.
● To assist in other planning and development projects and research and analysis as required.

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ROYAL BOROUGH OF KINGSTON UPON THAMES – ROLE PROFILE
Planning Policy
● To assist with the preparation of the Local Plan and other planning policy documents dealingwith specific areas, topics or
Neighbourhoods.
● Contribute to topic papers, planning briefs and other material required as part of corporate policy development.
● To contribute to thenecessaryprogrammeof survey, analysis, andpolicygenerationassociatedwith thepreparationof planning
policies.
● To assist with public participation exercises.
● To contribute to monitoring of the development of the Borough and Neighbourhoods and prepare related statistics.
● To give advice on the policy implications of planning applications.

Planning Enforcement
● Topreparewrittenevidenceinrespectofplanningandenforcementappealsandotherrelatedmattersandtopresentevidenceatpublic
inquires, informal hearings and court hearings as required.
● To monitor breaches of planning control, planning obligations and agreements, and planning conditions.
● Toinvestigatereportedbreachesofplanningcontrol, includingchangesof landuse,gypsyincursions,workstoprotect trees,worksto
listed buildings, and breaches of advertising regulations having regard to agreed priorities.
● To obtain evidence and prepare statements for prosecutions, mindful of the provisions of relevant areas of law.
● To respond to complainants, lawyers, agents, Councillors and land owners regarding apparent breaches of planning control.

Our Values

Beinganenabling council is a key principle that runs throughour organisational development and is embedded ineverythingwedo.
Underpinning this are the following values:

Innovative
● Promote a culture that encourages creativity
● Embrace new ideas and ways of working
● Ambitious to push the boundaries to realise potential
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ROYAL BOROUGH OF KINGSTON UPON THAMES – ROLE PROFILE
Open
● Respect and recognition – everyone has a voice that is heard and we are all valued
● Collaborative – working together with new and existing partners
● Empowering staff and residents to encourage informed decision-making
● Inspire trust by acting with integrity in all we do
Smart
● Commercial acumen to find solutions and best value
● Agile working
● Customer driven, listening and responding to consistently deliver excellence