Planning Team Leader - Abingdon, United Kingdom - South Oxfordshire District Council

South Oxfordshire District Council
South Oxfordshire District Council
Verified Company
Abingdon, United Kingdom

1 month ago

Tom O´Connor

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Tom O´Connor

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Description

Salary and grade:
Grade 9 - £55,788 - £60,646 (As of 1 April 2023)


Duration of role:
Permanent


Hours per week: 37 hours per week


Location:
Hybrid, Home/Abbey House, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Closing Date: 21/04/2023


Main duties and responsibilities

To ensure strong and robust performance and line management of the team through:

  • the day-to-day supervision of employees within your team
- modelling the values expected of the councils' employees
- appointment and development of officers within your team
- undertaking and recording performance reviews according to HR policy and procedure
- identifying training and development needs in discussion with the staff within your team
- actively supporting and ensuring compliance with the Lexcel Practice Management Standard
- taking initiative for solving issues and problems by a facilitative approach
- ensuring the councils' policies and procedures are deployed correctly within your team
- ensuring that diversity and equality are respected and embedded within your team
- ensure that the team meets standards and performance targets set for legal services
- contribute to the development of new systems and initiatives in legal services
- represent either council equally and without bias to all outside bodies
- undertake responsibilities determined by the head of service or service manager


Role Specific Responsibilities

  • Advise on all legal matters arising from the councils' planning functions, including development management, enforcement, appeals and the local development framework and drafting statutory notices and orders such as enforcement notices, stop notices and article 4 directions
  • Draft/approve section 106 agreements/obligations and agreements under related legislation
  • Handle complex planning work arising out of all the councils' functions including prosecutions, appeals and inquiries
  • Handle, work in partnership with and where appropriate instruct external solicitors and counsel on planning matters, including public inquiries, judicial reviews and complex civil and criminal litigation matters
  • Represent the councils at inquiries and tribunals
  • Advise on a range of local government law issues including data protection, freedom of information, employment, human rights and RIPA issues
  • Advise on environmental law issues including contaminated land
  • Draft policies and procedures and deliver training to officers and councillors
  • Advise formal council meetings, particularly the planning and licensing committees, subcommittees, panels
  • Advise councillors and officer groups as necessary and assist with drafting and advising on reports

Your essential skills, knowledge and experience

  • Can do attitude and approach with a focus on client care and providing an excellent legal service
  • Ability to handle complex work with limited supervision
  • Ability to lead, supervise and motivate a small team of legal staff
  • Proficiency with and ability to use Microsoft Word suite of programmes,
  • Compliance with and development of time recording/case management systems
  • Excellent oral and written communication and drafting skills
  • Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines when required
- be part of a shared service to both Councils and to contribute to new ways of working

  • Ability and willingness to attend evening meetings managing staff where required as part of the role
- ability to work with colleagues and external organisations to foster good working relationships
- positive 'can do' attitude, adaptable and ability to use initiative
- results driven and able to meet tight deadlines under pressure
- approachable and good motivator of staff
- collaborative and inclusive


Your desirable skills, knowledge and experience

  • Five years' post qualification experience of relevant legal work
  • Experience of local authority legal work preferred
  • Experience of supervising and managing staff preferred
  • Full driving licence and use of a car for work purposes

Your essential qualifications

  • Two years' post qualification experience of relevant legal work
  • Thorough up to date knowledge of area of specialism
  • Qualified as a solicitor or barrister or admitted as a chartered legal executive
  • Hold a current practising certificate or equivalent
About us


Our vision and values are important to the councils, and we expect you to support them and embed them in the way we work.

Our vision

We are seen as being customer-focussed, approachable and business-like. We are honest and open and are renowned for providing high-quality cost-effective services.

Our values

  • We act with integrity and show respect
  • We are all accountable
  • We are passionate about our business
  • We strive for simplicity
  • We love success

The benefits we offer

  • A basic 24 days annual leave per annum, rising to 29 days after five years
  • Flexible working and annualised hours a flexible approach to work to work that our employees
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