Job description and person specification

Job Title: Senior Planning Lawyer

Grade: SM1

Reports to: Head of Legal and Democratic Services

Service: Legal and Democratic Service

Location: Beech Hurst, Andover

Our Values: We expect all of our employees to live by and demonstrate the council’s key values of kindness, collaboration, accountability, equity diversity and inclusion, authenticity and pride

Main job purpose

This is a really exciting and important role where every day promises to be different. The main purpose of this important role within the legal team is:

to be the council’s subject matter expert in all matters relating to planning law
to support the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in providing a comprehensive, efficient and effective legal service to the council
to have primary responsibility for provision of legal advice, representation, advocacy and assistance in all types of matters relating to planning law
to attend planning committees and other forums as required providing practical and proactive advice on planning law, practice and procedure including dealing with member interests
to be responsible for the leadership, management and supervision of any other staff assigned to assist the post holder in carrying out the above duties.

Main responsibilities and duties / principal accountabilities

To provide high quality legal advice and support to officers and members relating to matters arising out of the council’s planning functions.
To have conduct of planning matters including the drafting of planning obligations, enforcement notices, compulsory purchase orders, advice relating to town and village greens and similar.
The above will include responsibility for drafting Agreements under s106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 in respect of large scale, complex, high-value and high- profile sites and developments.
To attend the council’s Planning Committees and other meetings, panels and working parties to advise on all necessary legal and procedural matters.
To deal with judicial reviews and other statutory challenges relating to the council’s planning functions.
To ensure the proper conduct of planning inquiries including acting as advocate for the council where appropriate and to instruct counsel as necessary.
To protect and promote the council’s interests in the course of all advice, drafting, negotiation and advocacy and to ensure that all deadlines are met and all procedures followed correctly and expeditiously.
To draft reports, review, comment on and prepare legal advice and comment for reports to planning committee.
To lead a small team and support and mentor other members of the legal team in relation to the areas of law within the post holder’s responsibility.
To support and assist in the management of constant improvement in the provision of legal services, case management, effective procedures and reporting processes.
To provide training to officers and members as the council’s planning law expert.
To keep abreast of developments in relevant areas of law and provide information to senior council officers and members of the legal services as necessary. To maintain a record of all training and development undertaken.
To undertake such other tasks commensurate with the post holder’s experience and qualifications as may be allocated from time to time by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services
To ensure that service delivery complies with current regulations, accepted professional standards, the council's policies and procedures and appropriate legislation. This includes legislation on equalities, health and safety and safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

Supervision and management

The role has two direct reports. The post-holder will also be involved in assisting, supervising, coaching and mentoring more junior members of the team to aid their professional development.

The postholder will be responsible for managing and directing external legal advisers where appropriate.

Contacts and relationships

Senior officers and members will look to the post holder for advice and guidance as the council’s expert in all planning law matters.
The post-holder will need the trust and confidence of senior officers and members.
In advising at area Planning Committee, the post holder will be responsible for advising members on the lawfulness of decision making, potential costs implications, member interests and all other legal and governance considerations.
Forming effective relationships with members of the Legal and Democratic Service, elected members, officers and management is key to this role.
The role includes sitting on project boards and teams and advising officers and members on projects and developments of significant complexity.
The postholder will also sit on project teams and boards which include the most senior managers in the council. The postholder will be part of the council’s Senior Managers' Forum.

Working environment

This is an office-based role with the ability to work flexibly in accordance with the council’s Agile Working Policy and other flexible working policies. This means that some of your time may be worked from home or from other council facilities, depending on business needs and service provision.

The role requires regular attendance at Planning Committee meetings in both Andover and Romsey which start at 5.30pm.

Person specification

Educational and professional qualifications

Qualified solicitor or barrister or Legal Executive	Essential
Evidence of continuing professional development	Essential
Educated to degree level or equivalent	Essential

Knowledge

Extensive, expert knowledge of all aspects of planning law within local government	Essential
A solid understanding of the workings and governance structures of a local authority.	Essential
Pragmatic and strategic approach and focus.	Essential

Experience

Substantial post-qualification experience.	Essential
Substantial experience of providing complex and high- level advice to senior officers and members in the post holder’s areas of expertise.	Essential
Substantial experience of interpreting, advising on and drafting complex legal agreements and other relevant documents.	Essential
Experience of working in a political environment.	Essential
Experience of advising senior officers and members in committee and other forums on legal and procedural matters	Essential
Experience of the work of a district council with an understanding of the current challenges facing local government	Essential
Experience of leading, supporting and developing others	Desirable

Key skills

Ability to deliver customer focused services	Essential
Political awareness and sensitivity	Essential
Efficient management of deadlines	Essential
Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills	Essential
Ability to influence and negotiate effectively	Essential
Ability to deliver complex legal advice in a clear and comprehensible manner	Essential
A sound understanding of Local Authority governance	Essential
Ability to empathise and be compassionate	Essential

Personal qualities and behaviours

Analytical, persuasive and decisive	Essential
Professional confidence borne of experience gained in practice is required	Essential
Resilience	Essential
Committed to building successful relationships	Essential
Commitment to customer service and satisfaction	Essential
Commitment to corporate working and collective responsibility	Essential
Self-motivated with a positive can-do attitude	Essential
Commitment to being a part of and contributing to a cohesive legal team, and to support and share knowledge and best practice with other team members, ensuring preservation of team spirit, particularly in the context of agile working where the team is not present in the office all of the time	Essential

Other factors

Politically restricted post

Must be able to travel to Hampshire wide locations and occasionally to further locations some of which may not be easily accessible by public transport

Corporate responsibilities

All employees are required to adhere to corporate policies, procedures and codes of conduct; full details can be found on the intranet or from your line manager. Particular aspects include:

Health and Safety - Every employee while at work has a duty to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself/herself and of other persons who may be affected by his/her acts or omissions at work - Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

All employees are required to adhere to the Council's corporate policy, procedures associated with their duties and to undertake tasks/training in that context, as required.

Safeguarding - This Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment, and to adhere to the Council's Safeguarding Policy.

Equalities – This Council is committed to providing equal opportunities for all. We believe that employing people from different backgrounds with a range of perspectives and experiences helps us to deliver high quality services to all our residents. We employ people based on their abilities and potential, regardless of any protected characteristics.

Social Media - Employees are required to adhere to social media corporate policies and to undertake tasks/training in that context as required. Employees must not bring the Council into disrepute through their use of social media either personally or on behalf of the Council.

Financial – Employees are required to adhere to the Council’s financial regulations and to undertake tasks/training in that context, as required.

Risk Management - Employees are required to adhere to the Council's risk management strategy and to undertake tasks/training in that context, as required.

Data Protection and Data Security - We hold and process information about our customers and as such we are legally obliged to protect that information.

Data protection is important for the Council, and employees are required to understand and adhere to relevant policies and procedures

Last Updated: 05 June 2024