Thank you for your interest in this position
Welcome to Fife
Economy, Planning and Employability Services
I am proud to be Chief Executive of Fife Council. Working with colleagues and
councillors, together we provide vital public services for over 360,000 people and
believe our role is to help improve lives and communities.
Lead Professional Major Applications and
Local Review
We are ambitious for Fife but our most challenging years ever lie ahead. More and
more people need our help and we’re focussed on reducing inequalities and
increasing opportunities throughout our communities. And yet, like the rest of the
public and voluntary sector, we have less money and fewer staff to get the job
done.
These are challenging times, but it’s also an exciting time to be in local
government. We’ve got a unique opportunity to redesign the way we provide
services and make a positive difference.
We’re looking for enthusiastic people with compassion and respect for the
residents of Fife, who are ready to help us transform local services for the future.
Steve Grimmond
Chief Executive, Fife Council
If you have any queries about the job information pack or application process, please contact the Transactions Recruitment Team.
You can do this by telephoning 03451 550088, (VOIP 2000 if internal to Fife Council), or by emailing [email protected]
.The Transactions Recruitment Team are located in Fife Council, Fife House, Glenrothes, Fife, KY7 5LT. We value diversity and are
striving towards equality of opportunity. All applicants will be considered fairly and on merit.
Job Profile : Lead Professional - Major Applications
and Local Review
Job Title:
Lead Professional - Major Applications and Local Review
File Reference Number:
Directorate/Service: Economy, Planning and Employability Services
Reports to:
Service Manager, Major Business & Customer Service
Grade:
Lead Professional
Job Purpose:
To support and assist the Service Manager in ensuring the effective organisation and delivery of the statutory and
non-statutory, technical, professional and operational standards to achieve the requirements of the Team and the
Service as a whole.
Professional 3, FC09, £34,369 - £41,739
To support the delivery of the Strategic Development Programme by providing development management advice
and processing of the related planning applications.
To lead on identified work areas of the Team on a day to day basis, on the instruction and guidance of, the
Service Manager, including providing professional advice and training to other members of the team. To develop
and implement new initiatives within the service, ensuring liaison and collaboration across and between portfolio
areas as appropriate, which will consistently deliver high quality customer focused services.
Key Tasks &
Responsibilities:
Operational Management
Carry out and co-ordinate the full range of Development Management activities relating to development
applications including:
Pre-application discussions and negotiations with developers and agents;
Assessment of development proposals and preparation of recommendations for Committee and
delegated items;
Attending Application site visits and site meetings;
Planning Appeal Work including submission of statements;
Regulation and monitoring of enforcement activities both formal and informal;
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Job Profile : Lead Professional - Major Applications
and Local Review
Preparation of Committee Reports and management of committee agenda preparation;
Advising the Local Review Body
Assist the Service Manager in developing and implementing all aspects of the Service Improvement/Action Plan.
Prepare Briefing Notes, Committee Reports and attend Committees/Pre-Committees as required.
Allocate and supervise the work of staff within priorities set by the Service Manager, to achieve and maintain
targets both on a day to day basis, and on specific projects.
Deliver a customer-focused approach to service provision, consistent with the Council’s corporate and service
objectives/policies including 'Customer First'.
Keep the Service Manager appraised of developments affecting the work remit.
Develop and promote the Council's culture change both externally and within the workings of the Team.
Represent the Service at Council Committees, Sub-Committees, Community Partnership Groups, Cross-Service
Working Groups and Project Teams as required.
Use and promote appropriate corporate and Service solutions designed to achieve the effective use of resources.
Assist the Service Manager by ensuring the consistent application of appropriate practices, policies and
standards within the Team, and the maintenance of high professional/technical/operational standards.
Attend the Management Team as required reporting on relevant issues and specific projects as necessary.
Work with colleagues from within or outwith the Service to help the Council and its constituent Services and
partners adhere to and achieve corporate objectives.
Develop with the Service Manager a customer-orientated approach by colleagues with the emphasis on customer
care and a service which is responsive to public needs.
Develop with the Service Manager new methods of working to improve service delivery and encourage best value
solutions to service delivery problems.
Ensure evaluation and review mechanisms are in place for these solutions.
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Job Profile : Lead Professional - Major Applications
and Local Review
Play an active role on the issue of health, safety and welfare of staff, including those contracted or in partnership,
to deliver services on behalf of the Council.
Produce and present reports, guidance and other documentation as required.
Deputise for the Service Manager as required eg report writing, letter writing, attendance at meetings, mail
handling.
Explore and fully utilise both the Intranet and Internet sites as increasingly important communication channels for
Service wide issues.
Develop plans with the Service Manager and play a lead role in service project teams.
Work in conjunction with the Service Manager to ensure the application of a service wide approach to standards
and ensure the maintenance of high professional/technical and operational standards.
Performance Management
Assist with the collation and interpretation of Performance Indicators and other statistical information and data.
Assist in the investigation of complaints where required, review the nature of the complaints in line with the
corporate and service Complaints Procedure and standards.
Review practices and procedures to promote improvements to service delivery and client satisfaction by more
effective use and deployment of resources within the team to contribute to the wider service and corporate goals.
Ensure all work is carried out in line with, and assist in developing quality assurance and best practice
procedures.
Assist in monitoring of external organisations and suppliers in receipt of funding from the Council.
Identify training needs within the Team to assist in 'Employee Development'.
Financial Management
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Job Profile : Lead Professional - Major Applications
and Local Review
Assist with the operation and control of the budget in liaison with your Service Manager. Provide information to
the Service Manager(s) for the preparation of budgetary estimates, spending profiles and plans.
Produce Team and Service reports as required.
Participate in budgetary review and provide information to the Service Manager(s) on necessary actions and
implications of budgetary adjustments.
Apply appropriate audit, control and collection procedures to monitor expenditure.
Ensure budget information is available timeously for inclusion in any Team/Service budget process.
Seek opportunities to maximise value for money by recommending partnership working approaches, developing
methods of cost reduction, securing external funding, and seeking new methods of working.
Authorise payments to contractors, operators and suppliers as required.
Ensure income is in line with contract and service budgets.
Support the Service Manager in the provision of consultation to Members, the public/clients/customers and
members of the Team.
Assist the Service Manager to liaise with other Authorities/local and national partnerships in planning and
delivering cross boundary/multi-disciplinary and Fife-wide services and projects.
General Tasks &
Responsibilities:
Responsible for ensuring the maintenance of appropriate standards of conduct and performance, initiating formal
disciplinary measures if required in liaison with your Service Manager.
Responsible for applying people management skills e.g. staff motivation, team building, and conflict resolution.
Responsible for contributing to support and oversee the satisfactory completion of the workload, including
participating in, and contributing to the achievement of the Service and Team Plans.
Maintaining an overview of the Team’s activities in order to meet agreed targets by the allocation of
staff/resources to meet competing priorities. Allocate and schedule work on an ongoing basis. Advise the Service
Manager of relevant issues.
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Job Profile : Lead Professional - Major Applications
and Local Review
Responsible for carrying out processes to service standards within the employee development and recruitment
framework in line with the corporate process e.g. provide support or on-the-job coaching and contribution
management.
Responsible for cascading information from the Service Manager to update staff in the Team with events in the
Council or the Service through briefing sessions, meetings or regular informal contact.
Assist the Service Manager by monitoring internal attendance management targets, and staff performance in
relation to these targets, to ensure these are maintained or improved.
Responsible for ensuring new and existing staff are trained to undertake duties within the Team. Undertake
training needs analysis in line with service delivery requirements. Apprise the Service Manager of any training
requirements.
Special Conditions:
The Head Of Service reserves the right to allocate other duties of equivalent grade and status as determined by
the workload of the Service and to move staff permanently and temporarily to a different office location.
Full membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute must be maintained for the duration of this post.
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Person Specification
Lead Professional - Major Applications and Local Review
Within Economy, Planning and Employability Services
Attributes
Essential
Desirable
Assessment
Experience
Relevant professional post qualification
experience gained as a Chartered Member of
the RTPI
Experience of providing Training
Mentoring or Coaching for other staff
Application,
Interview
References and
Certificates
Experience of LEAN management
Dealing with Major applications for development Providing advice as part of the Local
proposals (including EIA, pre-application work
Review process
and negotiating processing agreements).
Education,
Qualifications
Training and
Professional
Memberships.
Full Corporate Membership of the Royal Town
Planning Institute
Skills, Abilities &
Knowledge
Good working knowledge of current planning
legislation, government guidance and
development management practice.
Application,
Interview and
Certificates
A Degree, Diploma or equivalent in Town and
Country Planning
Awareness of Data Protection
Negotiating with developers, agents and
property owners, including knowledge of
Ability to write comprehensive complex reports land values and transactions and planning
which assess and balance a range of competing obligation negotiations
issues.
Application and
Interview
Positive attitude to customer care
January 2016
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Person Specification
Lead Professional - Major Applications and Local Review
Within Economy, Planning and Employability Services
Attributes
Essential
Desirable
Ability to develop and support team members to
perform to the highest possible standards
Assessment
Knowledge of IT systems
Ability to demonstrate a good level of Corporate
and Political awareness within a Local
Government context
Ability to prioritise, meet deadlines and respond
positively when under pressure
An understanding of Best Value, Performance
Management and Customer focussed working
practices
Ability to work in an organised and disciplined
manner.
Ability to meet agreed deadlines.
Interpersonal &
Communication
Skills
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to persuade and influence
Excellent negotiation / interpersonal skills with a effectively
range of audiences
Interview
Ability to deal with sensitive issues on a private
and confidential basis
Ability to work as part of a team or individually
Confidence in dealing with others, including
members of the public
January 2016
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Person Specification
Lead Professional - Major Applications and Local Review
Within Economy, Planning and Employability Services
Attributes
Essential
Health & Physical
Attributes
Ability to provide a regular and effective
service
Pre-employment
health questionnaire
How We Work
Matters
OD12 How We Work Matters details the
behaviours are required for successful
performance in the role.
Application and
Interview
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Desirable
Assessment
Working Together
Delivering Results
Taking Ownership
Customer Focus
Embracing Technology and Information
Directorate Information
Economy, Planning and Employability Services leads the Fife Council agenda for economic regeneration. It does this by encouraging
appropriate business development, assisting people into work and promoting high quality development including a wide range of housing.
It also provides a focus for Public Health and Consumer Safety.
The Service is managed through 3 distinct portfolios:
> Business and Employability: Leads on economic development initiatives, strategic planning policy and on economic tourism policy
and partnership; property and planning research and information; and promoting fife activities. The portfolio also provides access to
employment through a series of programmes of vocational training and a range of other initiatives to assist disadvantaged groups into
January 2016
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Person Specification
Lead Professional - Major Applications and Local Review
Within Economy, Planning and Employability Services
work.
> Planning: Performs a range of functions relating to local planning policy, planning applications and permissions, and roads
construction consent
> Protective Services: Performs a wide range of statutory and advisory services designed to protect public health and consumer safety
through Building Standards and Public Safety, Building Warrants, Environmental Health and Trading Standards functions.
Our key strategic objectives are laid out in the Corporate Improvement Plan:
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Regenerate Major Town Centres in Kirkcaldy, Dunfermline, St Andrews and Glenrothes.
Improve the Economic Performance of Fife.
Promote Fife more effectively.
Raise Skills Levels and Access to Opportunities.
Improve the Quality of Our Local Surroundings.
Regenerate Targeted Local Communities.
Enhance Partnerships with the Voluntary Sector.
Protect Public Health and Consumer Safety.
January 2016
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